International tourists have started arriving in Australia for the first time after two years of closed borders, triggering emotional reunion scenes between family and friends across the country. Travelers stepping out of aircraft at the Sydney airport were greeted by joyful well-wishers waving Tim-Tams, jars of Vegemite, and stuffed koalas as the Australian government removed international border restrictions on Feb. 21. Federal Tourism Minister Dan Tehan was also present at the airport to welcome the first international tourists from Los Angeles who arrived on a Qantas flight at 6:30 a.m. “What wonderful, wonderful news for our tourism industry and the 660,000 people employed in it,” Tehan told the Nine Network. “There is excitement everywhere, people are loving it, absolutely loving it. “The first passenger (to enter the arrivals hall) had a huge smile on their face even though they have been on a plane for … 20-odd hours,” he said. …
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