Breaking Down Borders: Relaxed Visa Rules Are Opening Up the World
Skift Take
Looser visa restrictions are greasing the wheels of global tourism, but the real question is whether these policies can sustain long-term growth or just offer a fleeting boost to countries eager for quick wins.
Five years ago, Indian newlyweds Pallabi and Kshitiz were all set for their dream honeymoon in Australia. But Kshitiz had a business trip to Dubai that left him with no time to submit his passport for the Australian visa, which would take about a month to process. They had to settle for a local getaway instead. Fast forward to today, and with Australia’s new online visa application process — no passport submission required — they're finally heading to Australia this October.
Rahul Diwan has a visa-disappointment story too. In 2018, right after he started his MBA in Dublin, he had a shot to study for a semester at Yale University in the U.S. But Ireland required a re-entry visa for Indian passport holders, and with a month-long wait, it just wasn’t possible.
Stories of visa headaches are all too common for travelers throughout Asia. It’s been a major block on growth in tourism. But there are subtle yet significant changes happening that highlight
