Overseas print trade shows on 2022 agenda

The federal and NSW governments are spruiking overseas travel pathways, and with Qantas commencing international routes from 17 December, next year’s overseas trade shows are now on the agenda for Aussie printers.

Federal trade minster Dan Tehan said he expects international travel to be happening by Chrstmas "at the latest". Tehan said, "We're doing that preparatory work to make sure that when those international borders open, hopefully at the latest by Christmas, Australians will be able to travel with a QR Code linked to their passport, which will be able to show a proof of vaccination."

The NSW government will trial home 7-day quarantine as the next step in opening up the pathway to international travel. NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said, “One of the things that we expect to occur at 80 per cent double dose is to consider our international borders. Aussies returning home through Sydney airport but also our citizens having the opportunity to go overseas when previously they weren’t able to.”

The NSW government will begin a trial by the end of the month, which will build on the trial being run in SA. At present overseas travel is virtually impossible, and anyone that does come into the country has to go into 14 day hotel quarantine. Seven days at home is far more palatable, and even this will only be a temporary situation. Victorian premier Dan Andrews will likely follow the NSW trial in the near future.

With state borders remaining firmly shut, and premiers of most states saying they will stay that way, there is little likelihood of interstate travel for the rest of this year, meaning there will be no travel within Australia before Christmas, let alone overseas.

Sydney and Melbourne remain in lockdown, but soaring vaccination rates mean that will be ending. In NSW 70 per cent double dose will happen around 6 October, 80 per cent double dose is expected by 26 October. Melbourne is anticipated to come out of lockdown on 5 November, it has already claimed the unenviable crown as the world's most locked down city.

The other Australian states will likely lag behind the big two in overseas travel. New Zealand has been allowing overseas flights, although they are banned from Australia for another eight weeks.

Aussie and Kiwi print business owners and managers are usually eager attendees of overseas trade events, and have been starved of them for almost two years now. As the rest of the world opens up a swathe of shows will run, including Labelexpo in Brussels in April, Fespa in Berlin in May, and Printing United in Las Vegas in October.

The rapid uptake of vaccination in Australia will also see major local show PacPrint certain to take place in Melbourne next June.