Travel is a right, not a privilege, and the Global South is leading the way

What you need to know:

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, there have been a number of widely publicized incidents of tourists as well as visa and green card holders getting a rough welcome at the United States border.

You also need to plan far ahead, as often it is impossible to get a timely interview appointment at the relevant embassy. According to the latest available data, the wait times for an interview for a visitor visa to the United States in, for example, Abidjan, Bogota, Dhaka, Lagos, and Mexico City are 280, 507, 288, 377, and 350 days, respectively. If you make it to the interview, you are at the mercy of a consular officer who decides whether or not to approve your visa application. If you are unlucky, your visa will be refused and you’ll be handed a piece of paper that says: “Today’s decision cannot be appealed.” What you’ll not be handed, of course, is a refund for the overpriced application fee. In this situation, the consular officer is a mini dictator and the foreign traveler has fewer rights than a convicted murderer. After all, the murderer can appeal.

China, historically known for its strict policies, too is making strides towards more inclusive immigration rules, and is cautiously opening its doors to foreign visitors. This is particularly notable because Trump seems well on his way to upstaging the United States in the international arena, and China may well emerge as the new leading superpower. China has mutual visa exemption agreements with 23 countries, and since 2023 has been implementing a series of unilateral visa-free policies for an increasing number of countries. Initially, six countries—France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia—were covered. This list has since grown to include 38 countries, whose citizens can enter China visa-free for business, tourism, and visiting family and friends for up to 30 days. Tourists from these countries can now more easily explore China’s historical sites like the Forbidden City or the Great Wall, and experience modern marvels such as high-speed trains and smart city technologies. For business people, visa-free entry to China means more opportunity to conduct market research and forge new partnerships.

Travel is a right, not a privilege, and the Global South is leading the way

What you need to know:

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