Japan Has the Most Powerful Passport but Only in a Post-Pandemic World
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
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