Travel risk firm Riskline says that during the peak of Covid-19 pandemic, most Southeast Asian countries had imposed strict entry bans, causing stress for travellers. However, most countries in the region have now lifted entry bans, providing an optimistic outlook for travellers in 2023. It goes on to list top four nations with easiest entry requirements.

Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam are top four in the list of South East Asian nations as per ease of entry requirements, according to Danish travel risk analysis company Riskline. According to Riskline, a country’s entry requirements can be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, issues to face on the traveller’s list of pre-departure concerns. It says that preparing visa-related documents and researching border control measures are major cause of stress for 23-27 pc of international traveller.

Depending on the passport type and nationality, it can take days to weeks to fulfil the destination country’s immigration requirements and avoid chaos at ports of entry, says Riskline, adding that pre-departure stress related to travelling significantly worsened during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2021, especially for entry to SouthEast Asian countries, due to the region’s notoriously stringent entry policies. During peak Covid-19, about 67 pc of travellers around the world said travel was much more stressful than before, with requirements of vaccinations, quarantines, tests and masks.

However, now the entry requirements across the region have been eased considerably and many countries have restored convenient entry visas or visa-free travel schemes, providing an optimistic outlook for travellers in 2023.

Thailand

Riskline says that with more than 40,000 charming temples across the country, a variety of white sand beaches in Chonburi province’s Pattaya and convenient entry rules for most visitors, Thailand is amongst the easiest nations to visit and hence is the most visited nation in the region in the post-pandemic era. It says that visa free entry is possible for nationals of 65 countries or regions. Further, tourists from China, India and 16 other nations can apply for visa on arrival for up to 30 days. Visitors from 23 other nations can apply for e-visa as well.

Indonesia

Next on the list is the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia, that is home to around 17,000 islands. Riskline says that Bali alone attracted over 2 million visitors in 2022 as Indonesia’s visa requirements for short-stay visits are simple. Instead of applying for a typical entry visa via the Indonesian Embassy, nationals of 87 countries or regions may apply for a Visa on Arrival for 30 days stay at select entry points, including at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport. For an even faster immigration process, travellers can apply for VoA online prior to departure.

Singapore

Riskline puts Singapore next on the list, saying the country has relatively easy entry process for nationals of 37 countries, while citizens of all other countries do not need a visa to enter.

Vietnam

Next on the list is Vietnam which has lenient entry requirements for most tourists and the country is looking to ease the requirements further and expand the list of visa free nations. Nationals of 82 countries can apply for e-visa for 30-day stays, says Riskline.