This week’s opening of the “trans-Tasman bubble” marks an important milestone on our road to recovery. After a year of closed borders and pent-up frustration, it is welcome news for our tourism and hospitality sector who have been doing it extremely tough, not to mention those who can now reconnect with friends and family across the ditch. In terms of the impact of the travel bubble on economic activity in the months ahead, it is hard to quantify. Much of the reason for that is the world has changed a lot since trans-Tasman travel was last possible. However, looking back we can get a sense of how important this market has previously been.