PR88914

LONDON, April 13, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

As vaccination program rollouts gather momentum in certain countries, the

resumption of regular international travel is no longer an abstract hope. The

latest results from the Henley Passport Index

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index] — the original ranking of all the

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

access without a prior visa — provide exclusive insight into what post-pandemic

travel freedom might look like as countries around the world selectively begin

to open their borders to international visitors.

Without taking temporary and constantly evolving Covid-19 travel restrictions

into account, Japan firmly holds onto the number one spot on the index — which

is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association

[https://www.iata.org/] (IATA) — with Japanese passport holders theoretically

able to access a record 193 destinations around the world visa-free. Singapore

remains in 2nd place, with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 192, while

Germany and South Korea again share joint-3rd place, each with access to 191

destinations.

As has been the case for most of the index's 16-year history, the majority of

the remaining top 10 spots are held by EU countries. The UK and the US, both of

which continue to face steadily eroding passport strength since they held the

top spot in 2014, currently share joint-7th place, with a

visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 187.

The latest results indicate that the gap in travel freedom is now at its

largest since the index began in 2006, with Japanese passport holders able to

access 167 more destinations than citizens of Afghanistan, who can visit only

26 destinations worldwide without acquiring a visa in advance.

Although there has been very little movement in the Henley Passport Index

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index] for the past five quarters since

the outbreak of Covid-19, taking a step back reveals some interesting dynamics

over the past decade. Q2 2021 saw China entering the biggest climbers in the

past decade for the first time. China has risen by 22 places in the ranking

since 2011, from 90th position with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of just

40 to 68th position with a score of 77. The most remarkable turnaround story on

the index by far, however, is the UAE, which continues its stellar ascendance.

In 2011, the UAE was ranked 65th with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 67,

while today, thanks to the Emirates' ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic

ties with countries across the globe, it is ranked 15th with a score of 174.

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

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

concept, says the past year has demonstrated that no government is infallible —

even the world's superpowers and wealthiest nations floundered — and many

failed their citizens. "While nobody expects a return to pre-pandemic mobility

levels anytime soon, the outlook now is certainly more hopeful than it was even

a few months ago. The latest ranking is a reminder that economic recovery and

development are dependent on global mobility, including personal travel

freedom, and that passport power should never be taken for granted."

Looking ahead to what the rest of 2021 holds, experts commenting in the Global

Mobility Report 2021 Q2

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-partners-global-mobility-repor

t] released by Henley & Partners [https://www.henleyglobal.com/] today, suggest

that adaptability and responsiveness will be critical to future survival and

success. Dr. Parag Khanna [https://www.paragkhanna.com/], Founder and Managing

Partner of FutureMap, says the second half of the year may well see millions of

people scattering again. "The shifting patterns of migration in the post-Covid

world (when it comes) will be non-linear and perhaps unpredictable. They will

mimic the reality of a world in which there are many unfolding crises, from

pandemics to climate change to political polarization. Countries facing fiscal

pressures as well as skilled labor and investment shortages will seek to

attract and recruit everyone from start-up entrepreneurs who can stimulate

innovation to doctors and nurses who can boost public health services. The

global war for talent is now well underway."

Read the full Global Mobility Report 2021 Q2  

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/publications/henley-partners-global-mobility-repor

t] and the full Press Release

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/newsroom/press-releases/passport-index-global-mobi

lity-q2]

Media Contact

Sarah Nicklin

Group Head of Public Relations

sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

Source: Henley & Partners