Thanks to a new travel bubble that's opened up between the Australian mainland and tropical islands in the Indian Ocean, Aussies are finally able to scratch that travel itch.

27 islands, including Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands, have quietly announced travel zones with Western Australia in July, which is effective immediately. 

Only two of the 27 islands are inhabited and the islands have not recorded a single case of coronavirus since the pandemic began.

Since the travel bubble was announced, tourist numbers have dwindled swiftly.

But Christmas and Cocos Keeling Islands administrator Natasha Griggs is urging more people to visit.

"All visitors to Australia's Indian Ocean Islands must have been in Western Australia for a minimum 14 days prior to travel, but there is no requirement to self-isolate upon arrival at the islands or upon return to Perth," she said. 

Christmas Island operators have been working overtime to promote the location as a tourist destination after years of bad press.

Its immigration detention centre was shut down in 2018, and instead became a quarantine hub for Australians returning from Wuhan in the early days of the coronavirus crisis.

Christmas Island marketing manager Jahna Luke told the Sydney Morning Herald that business is starting to pick up.

"After the bubble was announced it took two or three weeks for people to get their bookings in place, but we are really noticing the numbers coming through," she said.

"It is currently enough, we are coming into our peak season normally November to December at this stage not sure what our peak season will be." 

There are two flights from Perth to the islands each week, with prices starting from $570.