Back to normal

There is much talk about getting the economy back to the way it was. There is no real prospect of this. It will be years before international tourism returns, if it ever does.

Instead of pouring resources into resurrecting the past, perhaps we need to face reality.

It is unlikely that a vaccine will be available for Covid-19 in the foreseeable future, those countries that ‘‘unlocked’’ too soon are now ‘‘relocking’’ as they face second waves. If a vaccine were produced it is likely that the virus will mutate and render the vaccine useless.

We are going to have to live with the situation as it is for the foreseeable future. Forget about ‘‘bubbles’’, trans-Tasman or whatever, and the resurgence of international tourism.

We could leverage our new reputation and become a premium supplier of quality food from one of the very few Covid-eliminated countries.

We could also offer 4-6-week tourist packages that include a twoweek quarantine in comfortable, strategically located accommodation, perhaps including a te reo introduction or technology-oriented seminars.

What we must do is strenuously oppose the strident calls to reopen our borders, set up dodgy bubbles etc in pursuit of a mirage.

Dennis Cottle, Akaroa