London, United Kingdom (CU)_ According to the most recent passport index by the British consulting firm Henley & Partners, Brunei Darussalam has the 22nd most powerful passport in the world, as it grants its bearers visa-free access to 166 countries. The Henley Passport Index rates countries depending on the number of visa-free locations its passport holders may access.
According to the company, it obtains its data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s biggest and most accurate database of travel information. According to IATA’s most recent data, global passenger demand in the Asia-Pacific region has barely recovered 17% of pre-Covid levels, after hovering below 10% for the most of the last two years. This number lags far behind the worldwide trend, as markets in Europe and North America have recovered to about 60% of pre-crisis levels of travel mobility.
According to IATA Chief Economist Dr. Marie Owens Thomsen in the Henley Global Mobility Report 2022 Q3, passenger counts should touch 83% of pre-pandemic levels in 2022. He said, “By next year, many markets should see traffic reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels, while we expect this to be the case for the industry as a whole in 2024.”
Japan ranked number 1 globally, with visa-free entry to 193 nations. Japan is in the first position and has a record-high visa-free or visa-on-arrival score of 193. Singapore and South Korea tie for second place with a score of 192. Third place is shared by Germany and Spain, while Finland, Italy, and Luxembourg share fourth place. The fifth place is shared by Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden with visa-free entry to 188 nations. The index ranks all passports based on the number of places its holders may access without a visa.
According to Chris Dix of VFS Global, a supplier of visa processing services, visa application volumes increased by over 100 percent during the period between January and May of this year as compared to the same time in the previous year. He said, “With the opening of international borders, the easing of travel restrictions, and the resumption of regular international flights, the industry is currently witnessing peak ‘revenge travel’.
Chris added, “For example, in India, visa applications are averaging more than 20,000 per day as we head into the July-August holiday season. These numbers include travelers visiting Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom, along with other popular destinations. We are also expecting an extended summer travel season this year with planned international trips stretching right through to September.”
