skift take
— Rashard Jorden
A recent report by the United Nations Tourism Office found that the proportion of people who need a traditional visa to travel abroad is decreasing.
The agency's latest Tourist Visa Openness Report reveals that by 2023, 47% of citizens will need a traditional visa – a standard paper visa that is stuck in your passport after submitting documentation and an in-person interview. became. This is down from 59% in 2018 and 77% five years ago.
Particularly notable declines have been recorded in the Middle East and Africa. In 2015, approximately 71% of the world's population required a visa before visiting the Middle East. This figure dropped to 57% in 2023.
In Africa, it fell from 45% to 33%.
Several U.S. travel industry executives have argued that visa processing delays are hurting the country's recovery from the pandemic. 84% of the world's population requires a traditional visa to enter North America.
The United Nations Tourism Office said traditional visas, which require application fees and long processing times, remain the most common form of entry restrictions.
The proportion of travelers eligible for electronic visas has increased significantly over the years. 18% of the world's population is eligible to apply for an e-visa, up from 3% in 2013 and 7% in 2018. Electronic visas are becoming more common. If you want to enter destinations in both West Africa and East Africa. Approximately 36% of the world's population uses e-visas in these regions.
The report lists North Africa, Central America, Northern Europe, and Western Europe as regions without electronic visa programs.
Photo credit: The number of travelers requiring visa stamps like those issued by the Chinese government is decreasing.
