Revealed: World’s most powerful passports in 2023, India climbs up two spots, Thailand plans to impose tourist fee of INR 734 from June, Gangtok ropeway resumes operation and more in top stories of the day.
Revealed: World’s most powerful passports in 2023, India climbs up two spots
2023 Henley Passport Index is out for the year, with Japan grabbing the first spot for the fifth year in a row. The passport index has ranked India at the 85th position, meaning that Indian passport holders can access 59 countries without needing a visa. India has climbed up in the ranking by two positions from the past year, when it was at the 87th position. Those holding Japan’s passports can access 193 countries without requiring a visa.
The passport index is based on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), and includes 199 different passports in its comparison, which are measured against access to 227 travel destinations across the world. It is also updated quarterly every year, and the current rankings are for the first quarter of 2023. The top 10 countries in the list are:
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Germany
- Spain
- Finland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Austria
- Denmark
Thailand plans to impose tourist fee of INR 734 from June
As per the latest development, Thailand will likely introduce a tourist fee for international visitors. With its idea of enhancing its travel plans constantly, Thailand is making all efforts to boost tourism in the country and lure more visitors.
If reports are to go by, the country is all set to introduce a tourist fee of THB 300 (INR 734) from June, for international travellers who want to visit the country. Reportedly, the money raised will be used to develop tourist destinations and support visitors involved in accidents.
Gangtok ropeway resumes operation
Normal ropeway operations resumed at Gangtok recently, with a few trial runs, after remaining closed for maintenance.
If reports are to go by, the response of the public has been welcoming, and the ropeway has also been operating at its peak capacity. Why is the ropeway important? Well, it provides an easy connection between two parts of the city, and offers mesmerising views of the Himalayan vista. Also, it’s one of the safest modes of transportation, whereas ropeways are also cost-effective and eco-friendly, the reason why this mode of transport is used both by the locals and tourists.
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