The worst fears of tourism operators were confirmed when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pronounced New Zealand will remain closed off from most of the world for most of 2021.
She said the uncertainty surrounding the roll-out of vaccines globally means quarantine-free borders remain a long way off, although the pursuit of travel bubbles with Australia and the Pacific will continue.
It's Australia which remains critical to our tourism leaders, with a two-way flow across the Tasman still a vexed issue.
Chris Roberts is the chief executive of Tourism Industry Aotearoa.