One of the primary issues travellers face when preparing for a trip is the need to obtain visas for specific nations.

A visa is actually a tool that helps governments regulate and / or police the influx of foreign nationals into their territory, often for the sake of national security and public safety.

In the context of global tourism, visa policies implemented by individual nations serve as primary filters, essentially weeding out those whose presence may be disruptive to a host country, as well as those with pending issues in their points of origin.

This leads to the entry of more desirable individuals who have proven intent to travel for either business or leisure. 

However, it is important to note that stricter visa requirements can reduce bilateral tourist arrivals by more than 50 percent.

On the other hand, countries with a more relaxed approach to visa application and processing are able to meet their global arrival targets faster, with numbers surging well beyond what was previously forecast.

Why liberalising visa policy matters to tourism

The impact of more liberal visa policies cannot be understated: considering how China has been such a stickler for state security, the way that it has opened its doors to a number of allied nations through visa-free entry has enabled its tourism sector to flourish even in challenging times.

At the same time, going paperless by implementing a more convenient e-visa system has been noted to significantly boost inbound tourist numbers, as is the case among several nations in Oceania.

Also, eased barriers to entry, especially among developing nations, is a boon to the national economy as a greater number of tourists equals higher tourist spending and a greater contribution to a country’s total GDP.

Furthermore, destinations that actively decrease or do away with costly visa fees and lengthy application wait times, open themselves to a better class of traveller: family groups, luxury travellers, and even those who would normally shy away from even the thought of visiting due to the stress involved in visa application.