Western Australia's borders have finally re-opened after being closed to most of Australia for 696 long days.
Mr McGowan said 28,000 people are expected to flood in over the next few days.
Triple vaccinated Australians with a completed G2G border pass can go to WA after the gates were thrown open at midnight (3am AEDT).
They must take a rapid test on arrival.
Vaccinated people flying in from overseas can now also land in Perth without having to do hotel quarantine.
Mr McGowan admitted in a Facebook post the harsh border closure "was not without cost,"
"I personally am aware of that impact, as my mum and dad live in New South Wales," he said.
"I understand what it means to be disconnected from family, I know how hard it can be.
"Just as the Commonwealth shut Australia's international borders, WA became the island within an island.
"And it worked. By only allowing travel with jurisdictions that were free from COVID-19, we could remain COVID-free ourselves.
"We avoided long, debilitating lockdowns, and we achieved some of the best health and economic results in the world."
"We avoided needless deaths."
Many won't have seen each other for two years, though people in virus-free states were allowed to visit at some points of 2020 and 2021 before the borders slammed shut again.
The first people arriving into Perth will be given tourism vouchers as a bonus.
With the border re-opening, Premier Mark McGowan has put strict restrictions in place.
After having no cases for months, the state is now recording well over 1000 a day, but hospitalisations remain very low.
The rules include includes mask wearing inside for adults and children on year three and above, home gatherings limited to 10 people, and fifty per cent capacity for venues such as theatres and sports stadiums.
Businesses being impacted
Premier Mark McGowan acknowledged the harsh restrictions would make it difficult for many West Australian businesses.
"I know it doesn't make it easy for a number of people and businesses and for that I am sorry," he said.
To help minimise the strain on businesses, Mr McGowan said he is introducing a $72 million support package.
Grants ranging from $3000 for sole traders to $50,000 for medium-sized businesses with more than 20 employees will be available.
To be eligible businesses will have to prove their turnover is down by at least 50 per cent compared to the same four-week period last year.
Elaine Ashurst from the Sayers Café in Leederville near Perth's CBD, told 9News she won't qualify for the grants.
"It's soul destroying," Ms Ashurst said.
"If you were 50 per cent down you'd be shut because your rent hasn't been reduced by 50 per cent, your costs certainly haven't been reduced by 50 per cent."
Ms Ashurst says her family-run business already began struggling in early 2021 due to the snap lockdown and restrictions.
"I sometimes feel that the announcements come out so that the general public think people are being looked after but we're not," Ms Ashurst said.
Hospitals prepare for borders to re-open
Hospitals in WA are on red alert in preparation for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases as the border re-opens.
As a result, many category two and three elective surgeries have been called off from mid-March.
On Wednesday, the state recorded 1770 new COVID-19 cases, with 16 in hospital and none in ICU.
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2022-03-02 16:33:06Z
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