In 1963, some 87 countries agreed at a United Nations Conference in Rome that governments should extend to the maximum number of countries the practice of abolishing the requirement of entry visas for temporary visitors.
The pace of change, however, has been slow. Even after 50 years, onerous barriers to the free movement of people across borders exist in many parts of the world.
Freedom of movement is considered a basic liberty that governments should respect and protect unless justified by extenuating circumstances. This extends to movement across international boundaries.
Approximately, two-thirds of the world population currently need to obtain a visa prior to international travel, which means many visa regimes are still overly restrictive, expensive, and inefficient. 
Interestingly, there is a marked difference between emerging and mature economies, partly a result of the increasing protectionist rhetoric heard in those mature economies. 
When travelling to an emerging economy on average, 59% of the world’s population needs a traditional visa. On the other hand, when visiting a mature economy, however, 70% of the world population needs a traditional visa, according to the World Travel Organisation (UNWTO).
Onerous visa regulations increase the price of travel, as on top of the visa fees there is the cost of travel to visa application centres, points out Gloria Guevara, president and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
“Uncertainty around processing times and appeal systems can prevent people from planning ahead and/or taking trips at short notice. It can also discourage travel to destinations that have unfriendly visa processes,” Guevara says. 
Relaxing visa requirements would unlock the benefits of air travel demand and have a positive economic impact around the world, emphasises the International Air Transport Association, the global trade body of airlines.
“Aviation needs borders that are open to people and trade,” says Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO. 
“We must be a strong voice in the face of those with protectionist agendas. I would like to imagine a future for aviation where airlines are as free as possible to meet the demands for connectivity.”
If barriers to travel are not addressed and processes streamlined, global growth will be hampered. 
The number of travellers will more than double and exceed 7bn within the next 20 years, a report showed recently. During that time, most of the world’s major airports will need upgrades to keep pace, but development timelines and funding scarcity makes that outcome unlikely.
The solution to this capacity problem, therefore, lies in more efficient processing. International travel needs to be made easier. 
Hassle-free visa processes and greater connectivity will facilitate travel and tourism as is evident from Qatar, where more than 80 nationalities are currently eligible for visa-free entry into the country.
International tourist visits to Qatar are expected to grow at a 5-year CAGR of 5% to 2.9mn whereas the hotel supply is expected to grow at a 5-year CAGR of 12.8% to 46,000 hotel rooms, points out Alpen Capital.
Travel facilitation and increased security through the use of technology is one of WTTC’s top priorities and it has recently partnered with IATA to further this initiative. The two organisations have agreed to adopt a common approach, exchange information, and work together to promote biometrics standards and global interoperability.
“Last year, one of every five jobs created in the world were in our sector,” says Guevera. “If we don’t use biometrics technology to improve the processes, we are not going to be able to achieve the potential of travel and tourism. Millions of jobs are at stake, so this is a priority for WTTC and our members.”
Travel and tourism is an important and often overlooked export sector that makes a significant direct contribution to jobs and global trade, spreading its value widely across the world. 
In 2016, the sector contributed 6.6% of total global export earnings and 30% of service sector exports. As a leading job creator, travel and tourism directly employs nearly 110mn people, representing 3.6% of all employment. When indirect and induced impacts are included, the sector contributes one in every 10 jobs worldwide. 
While travel and tourism imagery and discourse often tends to focus on its role in offering services and products for the leisure market, the contribution that business travel makes in driving global trade is considerable, WTTC says.
In countries with developing economies, business travel often plays the leading role in growth of the wider travel and tourism sector, creating the infrastructure and jobs needed for transportation, accommodation and other services that leisure travellers could capitalise on in due course.
Encouraging the freedom to travel is a simple step that promises huge strides in economic benefits. UNWTO research suggests the rewards for progressive visa strategies will be plain to see. 
Some $89bn in tourism receipts and 2.6mn jobs would be created in Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation countries through the reduction of barriers to travel. The Asean community would benefit to the tune of $12bn and 650,000 extra jobs and G20 economies would get $206bn from additional international tourism and 5mn extra jobs.
The introduction of simpler, quicker, and cheaper processes often aided by new identification technologies and greater levels of co-operation between countries can promote travel and tourism, thereby creating many badly needed jobs, around the world.
Obviously, encouraging the freedom to travel is a simple step that promises huge strides in economic benefits.


Pratap John is Business Editor and Chief Business Reporter at Gulf Times.