here they are;
Japan has pushed ahead of Singapore and South Korea to offer its citizens visa-free or visa-on-demand access to a record 193 destinations around the world, compared to the other two leaders' 192.
1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)
3. Germany, Spain (190 destinations)
4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 destinations)
5. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 destinations)

The worst
Afghanistan (27 destinations)

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/ ... 8574086021

I sure am happy that when I had to decide between a German and Kenyan Passport, I chose good old Deutschland.

and completely contradicted by this site which claims the best is the UAE with:
116 visa free;
55 Visa on Arrival - this ranks it top with 171 countries with easy access (and considered equal to visa free according to Henley's methodology);
and a further 27 with visa in advance required, giving a total of 198.

It's hard to know who to believe.



https://www.passportindex.org/byRank.php

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 7:33 am 1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

One country decided yes on Japan but no on Singapore and SK?

Big Daikon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:10 am

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 7:33 am 1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

One country decided yes on Japan but no on Singapore and SK?

I'd say it'll be down to diplomatic relations. Japan probably built a road or a few hospitals or something there and Singapore /SK don't have much to do with them.

Random Dude wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:35 pm

Big Daikon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:10 am

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 7:33 am 1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

One country decided yes on Japan but no on Singapore and SK?

I'd say it'll be down to diplomatic relations. Japan probably built a road or a few hospitals or something there and Singapore /SK don't have much to do with them.

Good a guess as any.

Wondered about the thought process: "We like the Japanese, but f*ck them Koreans!"

Big Daikon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 1:24 pm

Random Dude wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 12:35 pm

Big Daikon wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 11:10 am

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 7:33 am 1. Japan (193 destinations)
2. Singapore, South Korea (192 destinations)

One country decided yes on Japan but no on Singapore and SK?

I'd say it'll be down to diplomatic relations. Japan probably built a road or a few hospitals or something there and Singapore /SK don't have much to do with them.

Good a guess as any.

Wondered about the thought process: "We like the Japanese, but f*ck them Koreans!"

I used to be involved in hiring people from abroad. We had a good relationship with the local govt officials and a recruiter who was always up on the latest developments as far as visa stuff went so I got a bit of an insight as to how petty it can get.

If for example the US criticized the government where I was the fees involved in bringing new employees into the country would go up, and there might be another irritating hoop or two to jump through if they were from the US. If a country had a spate of people on tourist or student visas go off the radar and become overstayers then those visas would quietly become harder to get, and often there would be a tit-for-tat response from the other country involved.

I reckon things like covid rates, attitudes toward the wearing of masks etc would be a factor too now, as well as things like who sends international aid, trade relations etc.

This is where China is on the list.