Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, stated Wednesday that the country would fully reopen all its borders internationally starting at 11:59 pm on July 31st. Cruise ships are also welcomed back into local ports the same day.

Visitors who are in need of visas can now travel to New Zealand with the end-July border opening, which is more than two months ahead of what the government had planned.

Ardern spoke at a Business NZ luncheon in Auckland and stated that opening borders will help relieve the urgent shortage of skilled workers, increase tourism, and make it more secure.

Ardern declared, “We continue to implement our established plan for New Zealand’s economic prosperity.”