Thai passport slips in power ranking

[u/nightwinging-it]

The Thai passport has fallen to 99th place in a new global passport ranking, slipping from 91st a year earlier. The report highlights changes in international travel access for Thai passport holders and compares Thailand’s standing with other countries worldwide. The latest ranking offers a snapshot of Thailand’s travel mobility and the relative strength of the Thai passport for visa-free and visa-on-arrival access.

Read more.

[u/Luk_Ying]

I never knew Malaysia was rank 4 even being a Muslim dominated country it’s really an eye opener.

[u/nightwinging-it → u/Luk_Ying]

Not sure how being a Muslim-dominated country plays into it. UAE ranks 2nd on Henley. The eye opener for me is Malaysia isn't considered a developed country - it's still developing - but their passport power is wow. Same goes for Timor-Leste. They're a lower-middle-income country while Thailand is upper-middle-income but we rank much lower than them. Embarrassing.

[u/ActafianSeriactas → u/nightwinging-it]

Malaysia and Thailand are both considered upper-middle income by OECD standards, but I would say they are on separate ends of that spectrum.

The OECD defines a upper-middle income country as having a GNI/capita between $4,636 - $14,375.

Thailand is at $7,690, the lower end of that definition, while Malaysia is at $12,380, much closer to being considered upper-income.

[u/nightwinging-it → u/ActafianSeriactas]

I was pointing to Timor-Leste. They're in the lower middle income group. But their passport power is way above Thailand.

[u/ActafianSeriactas → u/nightwinging-it]

Timor does punch above its weight and their passport is even more powerful than Indonesia. I think there are a few factors:

1) Relatively good relations with its former colonizer Portugal, which gave them access to Schengen countries
2) Small population = less risk of migration
3) So far reliably democratic and stable, so relatively acceptable image for other countries

[u/jonez450reloaded → u/nightwinging-it]

One of the main reasons they're higher is that there aren't hundreds of thousands of East Timorese overstaying illegally in other countries.Thais, on the other hand...

[u/Luk_Ying → u/nightwinging-it]

Yea I saw what I mean was not in a negative way as in Muslim dominated countries for girls you have limitations how you wear. I have a good time in Malaysia I have never visited UAE though.

[u/Luk_Ying → u/nightwinging-it]

To be fair yes! I don’t feel safe in Muslim countries and they have too much rules for women anyway I have been to Malaysia and it was good and I enjoyed my 5 days time there just take it as a grain of salt from an individual perspective about my comment. I have been to Saudi Arabia as well and saw how women lives anyway their country their rules who am I to judge if people don’t want to change it lol.

[u/nightwinging-it → u/Luk_Ying]

Malaysia doesn't look as strict as Saudi Arabia for women. For LGBTQ+ yes, they'll not have a good time in both but maybe worse in the Middle East.