Regardless of whether you’re a nervous flier or not, turbulence can be an unnerving experience mid-flight. One minute you are cruising along smoothly, and the next you’re seeing the seatbelt sign illuminate and things start to get a little bumpy.
10.01.2024 - 18:17 / forbes.com
Over the last five years, the world has changed a lot. A global pandemic ground much of the global population to a halt with travel the most restricted it's ever been in my lifetime – and most likely yours too. Russia’s war on Ukraine and now Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza are causing shockwaves around the world, reshaping the statuses of countries and the rights of their citizens.
With 2024 now underway, the annual results of the Henley Passport Index provide insight into the world’s global power players, and the impact and legacy of the wars and the pandemic. It also gives us a tantalizing look at what lies ahead. Based on exclusive data from the world’s largest database of travel information, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), supported by serious in-house research, it ranks all 199 global passports according to the number of destinations holders can visit without needing a visa in advance.
Towards the end of 2023, Japan lost its spot at the top of the passport ranking for the first time in five years, overtaken by Singapore. As 2024 dawned, that lead changed again. This time however, an unprecedented six countries now share the top spot with visa-free access to a record-breaking number of destinations.
Four EU member states—France, Germany, Italy and Spain—join Singapore and a resurgent Japan in boasting the most powerful passports in the world, with their citizens able to visit an astonishing 194 destinations out of 227 around the globe visa-free.
Asia and Europe continue to dominate the index as we move down the list. Second place is shared by South Korea, Finland and Sweden with visa-free travel to 193 destinations. Just behind with 192 destinations are Austria, Denmark, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The UK sees a slight improvement from last year with visa free access to three more countries, taking it to 191 and fourth place, shared with Luxembourg, Portugal and Norway. The U.S. too has reversed its fortunes after a decade of decline, climbing one spot to seventh place with travel to 188 destinations without the need for a visa, the same as Canada and Hungary. Both the UK and U.S. are still toiling far below where they were a decade ago, when they dominated the global ranking in joint first position.
Still propping up the bottom of the index is Afghanistan in 104th position with visa-free travel to just 28 destinations, just behind Syria and Iraq. While chairman of Henley & Partners, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, points to the general trend over the history of the 19-year-old ranking being towards greater travel freedom, he notes that the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the index is now wider than ever. “The average number of destinations travelers are
Regardless of whether you’re a nervous flier or not, turbulence can be an unnerving experience mid-flight. One minute you are cruising along smoothly, and the next you’re seeing the seatbelt sign illuminate and things start to get a little bumpy.
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The passport you hold is a powerful tool when it comes to effortlessly visiting countries around the world.And some passports provide far more access than others, according to the Henley Passport Index.The just-released 2024 index shows that for the first time in 19 years of producing the ranking, six countries are tied for the top spot of having the most powerful passports.The countries leading the ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—meaning citizens from all of these countries are able to visit 194 destinations around the world either visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival.The Henley Passport Index is the only ranking of its kind and is developed based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index compares 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.While Japan and Singapore have made it into the number one slot for the past five years running, according to CNN, the European countries that are now also ranked number one on the list is a new development.
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From the heart of Italy's truffle-rich landscapes to the olive trees of Greece, the globe offers a culinary tapestry that transforms gifting into a refined experience. Elevate your senses with the delicate sweetness of French macarons from Ladurée or indulge in the rare pleasure of Spanish acorn-fed ham, Jamón Ibérico. Here are ten gourmet food gift suggestions for Valentine’s Day 2024.
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Six countries now have the world's most powerful passport, according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index — but the US isn't one of them.
There's a new six-way tie for first place in an annual global travel ranking.France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, have all tied as having the top passport in the world, measured by providing visa-free access to 194 countries with their respective passports, according to the newest Henley Passport Index. The annual report measures the flexibility of visa-free travel and has become a popular list among global travelers. For comparison, in 2023, only Japan was crowned with the top spot when it provided access to 193 countries.