The UNWTO regional openness report indicates a return to pre-pandemic levels of international travel openness, following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.
The report shows a decline in traditional visa requirements globally, with fewer individuals needing a traditional visa to travel, dropping from 77pc in 2008 to 59pc in 2018 and further decreasing to 47pc in 2023.
The report recommends increased integration of tourism perspectives into visa strategies, targeted visa-exemption programs for low-risk traveller markets and expanded visa on arrival facilities.
It seeks clearer communication on visa policies is vital, along with a streamlined visa application process, accelerated processing times and optimised entry procedures for an enhanced visitor experience.
The report notes that, as a consequence of the pandemic, new forms of travel facilitation, such as “nomadic visas”, have appeared. The report notes a decline in traditional visa requirements: Fewer people worldwide now require a traditional visa to travel, falling from 77pc in 2008 to 59pc in 2018, and then to 47pc in 2023.
- Visa-exempt travel: 21pc of the world population do not need any form of visa, an increase from 17pc in 2008 and 20pc in 2018.
- Visa on arrival: 14pc of the world population can apply for visa on arrival, an increase from 6pc in 2008. and 15pc in 2018.
- eVisas: 18pc of the world population can apply for eVisas, an increase from 3pc in 2013 and 7pc in 2018.
- The most open sub-regions are South East Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean.
- The greatest increase in openness since the last report in 2018 was observed in South Asia and West Africa.
- The most restrictive regions remain Central and North Africa, North America and Northern and Western Europe.
- Visa exemptions are particularly prevalent in the Caribbean and Central America.
- Visa on arrival policies is common in East Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and West Africa.
- Traditional visa requests in the Middle East decreased from 71pc of the global population in 2015 to 57pc in 2023.
- eVisas are prevalent in West and East Africa and South Asia.
