The expected return of international students by the end of this year will help boost the economy, according to Business NSW.
Daniel Hunter, chief executive of Business NSW, said the company looks forward to welcoming back a “sector that has been decimated for the past two years.”
“It’s easy to forget that an international student pilot was originally announced in June – two weeks before the current Delta outbreak,” Hunter said. “It is pleasing to see the government revisit this and make it a priority. This is an opportunity to test and resolve issues with the return of overseas travellers prior to a broader international border reopening for skilled migrants and tourists.”
The presence of international students will help resolve some skill and labour shortages in the New South Wales as more businesses start to reopen, Business NSW said.
However, the Commonwealth’s decision to accept or reject the non-TGA approved vaccines is still up in the air.
“There also needs to be decisions made around quarantine arrangements and, down the track, whether vaccine boosters are required by this cohort to ensure their safety and that of their fellow students,” Hunter said.
