Africa Sees Rise in Visa Openness for Travellers
A new United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) report shows increasing visa facilitation across Africa as global travel openness rebounds to pre-pandemic levels.
The Tourism Visa Openness Index reveals East Africa and West Africa were among the sub-regions with the greatest increases in openness since 2018. East Africa is now highlighted as one of the most open sub-regions globally.
More African countries are adopting policies like visas on arrival and eVisas to attract international travellers. In West and East Africa, eVisas and visas on arrival are becoming prevalent.
While Central and North Africa remain restrictive for visa requirements, the percentage of the global population needing a traditional visa to visit has still dropped in recent years. Overall, the data indicates the percentage requiring a standard visa before travel has declined from 77% in 2008 to 47% in 2023 amid rising visa exemptions, visas on arrival and eVisa use.
The UNWTO recommends further visa facilitation policies across Africa to promote tourism growth.
Source: UN Tourism