AsiaNet 86024

LONDON, 13 October, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

As coronavirus-related travel restrictions begin to lift, the latest research

from the Henley Passport Index [https://www.henleypassportindex.com/] ­­— based

on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association

[https://www.iata.org/] (IATA) ­­— shows that the pandemic has completely

upended the seemingly unshakeable global mobility hierarchy that has dominated

the last few decades, with more change still to come.

At the beginning of the year, for instance, the US passport was ranked in 6th

position on the Henley Passport Index

[https://www.henleypassportindex.com/passport] — the original ranking of all

the world's passports according to the number of destinations their holders can

access without a prior visa ­— and Americans could travel hassle-free to 185

destinations around the world. Since then, that number has dropped dramatically

by over 100, with US passport holders currently able to access fewer than 75

destinations, with the most popular tourist and business centers notably

excluded. As criticism of the country's pandemic response continues to mount,

and with the US presidential election just weeks away, the precipitous decline

of US passport power and American travel freedom is seen as a clear indication

of its altered status in the eyes of the international community.

Other significant changes in the once-solid global mobility hierarchy paint an

equally vivid picture of the chaos caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the

beginning of 2020, the Singapore passport was ranked 2nd globally, with

passport holders able to access an unprecedented 190 destinations globally.

However, under the current travel restrictions, Singaporeans can travel to

fewer than 80 destinations around the world. Brazilian passport holders were

able to access 170 destinations, but currently approximately only 70 are

accessible. The decline in mobility and passport power for countries such as

India and Russia have been less dramatic, but nevertheless indicative of an

overall shift. Russian citizens had access to 119 destinations prior to the

Covid-19 outbreak but can currently travel to fewer than 50. At the beginning

of the year, Indian passport holders could travel to 61 destinations without a

visa, but due to virus-related restrictions they currently have access to fewer

than 30.

Without taking the various pandemic-related travel bans and restrictions into

account, Japan continues to hold the number one spot on the Henley Passport

Index [https://www.henleypassportindex.com/], with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival

score of 191. Singapore remains in 2nd place, with a score of 190, while

Germany and South Korea are tied 3rd, each with a score of 189. EU member

states continue to perform best overall, with countries from the bloc taking up

most of the spots in the index's top 10.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin [https://chriskalin.com/], Chairman of Henley &

Partners [https://www.henleyglobal.com/] and inventor of the passport index

concept, says travel freedom is something citizens of wealthy democratic

countries such the UK, the US, and Western European nations have taken for

granted for decades. "The pandemic has abruptly changed this, and there's been

a shift away from travel freedom being regarded as the prerogative of nationals

with once-powerful passports, towards a realization that it is now a necessary

luxury for those wishing to access first-class education, business

opportunities, and quality healthcare for themselves and their families."

Dr. Parag Khanna [https://www.paragkhanna.com/], founder of FutureMap, says

that increasingly restrictive migration policies have also encouraged many

people to seek out a Plan B. "Even prior to the pandemic, Brexit had pushed

British professionals to seek German, French, Spanish, and other EU

nationalities based on lineage, or to pursue residency leading to citizenship

in countries such as Portugal. Americans have availed themselves of similar

options in countries ranging from Canada to Malta. Recent estimates suggest

that interest in investment migration programs has jumped five-fold from 2019

through mid-2020."

Dr. Juerg Steffen

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/key-people-details/dr-juerg-steffen/], CEO of

Henley & Partners, says there is no question that the volatility of 2020 has

boosted the appeal. "We've seen unprecedented interest from citizens of

developed economies, particularly Americans with a startling 238% increase in

enquiries from between January and October compared to the same period in 2019.

Alternative residence or citizenship is increasingly seen as an indispensable

asset and a vital hedge against ongoing volatility."

Download the Henley Passport Index Report: Q4 2020 Edition

[https://www.henleypassportindex.com/quarter-update]

Infographic -

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1309777/Henley_Passport_Index_Infographic.jpg

Media Contact

Paddy Blewer

Group PR Director

paddy.blewer@henleyglobal.com

SOURCE: Henley & Partners