Travel Is a Right, Not a Privilege, and the Global South Leads the Way

Mar 30 , 2025
By Guaiqiong Li (PhD) , Rainer Ebert

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For some, it is as routine as paying at the checkout counter. For others, it is as nerve-wracking as a prostate exam, and as undignified as being reprimanded in front of class. The experiences depend largely on one thing: where we were born.

We are talking about international travel.

Lately, Western travellers trying to enter the United States have been getting a taste of what it can be like to be a traveller from the Global South. Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, there have been a number of widely publicised incidents of tourists as well as visa and green card holders getting a rough welcome at the United States (US) border.

Lucas Sielaff, a German tourist trying to enter the United States from Mexico with his American fiancé, was handcuffed and shackled at the border in Tijuana, and held in detention for 16 days, before being deported at his own expense. Another German tourist and a Canadian national on a work visa were stopped at the same border and detained for more than six weeks and 12 days, respectively. Fabian Schmidt, a German national with a green card, was stopped at an airport in Boston, reportedly subjected to harsh interrogation tactics and shoved into a cold shower, naked, and ultimately sent to a detention facility.

Other incidents include a French scientist who was planning to attend a conference near Houston but was denied entry and a British artist who was held in "horrendous conditions" for three weeks.

The United Kingdom (UK) and Germany have updated their travel advisory for the United States, and Western travellers are now thinking twice before booking a flight to "the land of the free," which under Trump is experiencing a staggering descent into authoritarianism and does not seem as free anymore. For German, French, British, and other Western travellers who are used to simply booking flights and strolling past immigration counters and into their favourite holiday destinations without visas or other hassles, this is a new thought process. For travellers with "weak passports," the struggles of crossing borders have long been a fact of life.

Those say from Bangladesh or Tanzania who want to visit a Western country may not have to literally strip naked like Schmidt, but figuratively. They will likely be required to disclose their employment history and financial situation, and be asked about family, past travel, and social media activities. They 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 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 hopefuls make it to the interview, they are at the mercy of a consular officer who decides whether to approve visa applications. If they are unlucky, their visa could be refused, and they will be handed a piece of paper that says, "Today's decision cannot be appealed." Of course, they will not be handed a refund for the overpriced application fee. In this situation, the consular officer is a mini autocrat, and the foreign traveller has fewer rights than a convicted murderer. After all, the murderer can appeal.

Things are set to get even worse at the US border for some travellers without the privilege of a strong passport. President Trump is planning a new version of the infamous "Muslim Ban" that resulted in chaos at airports, protests, and lawsuits during his first term. His upcoming travel ban could target 43 countries, more than half of them in Africa. Many Americans will be okay with that, as people rarely question the right of sovereign countries to set their visa and immigration policies as they see fit. International travel is seen as a privilege rather than a right.

But is it?

Any other policy that unfairly disadvantages people based on characteristics over which they have no meaningful control, such as ethnicity, race, sex, gender, religious upbringing, or native language, would rightly be unacceptable.

When it comes to borders, why do we accept policies that blatantly discriminate against people, mostly from poorer countries, based on where they were born?

The world is more interconnected than ever, and the ability to move freely is essential to taking advantage of professional, educational, and personal opportunities provided by globalisation. A person's place of birth should not determine it.

While open borders are still a distant dream, a number of countries are resisting the temptations of xenophobia and nationalism raging in the United States and parts of Europe, and have recognised that more liberal border policies are not only more moral, but also benefit the receiving country by promoting economic growth, tourism, and innovation, as well as encouraging mutual understanding between cultures.

Since 2018, Rwanda has allowed citizens of all countries to obtain a visa upon arrival without prior application. This visa is free for citizens from member countries of the African Union (AU), the Commonwealth, and La Francophonie. Samoa does not require a visa for stays less than 60 days from anybody.

Historically known for its strict policies, China is also making strides towards more inclusive immigration rules. It 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 covering France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia, the 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, such as 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 opportunities to conduct market research and forge new partnerships.

Countries like Rwanda, Samoa, and China are proving that a more open world is not only possible but beneficial for all. Instead of building ever-higher walls, they are setting a positive example that the "Free World" would do well to follow. The ability to travel freely should not be a privilege reserved for the lucky few, but a right, a recognition of our shared humanity and the interconnected world we live in.

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PUBLISHED ON Mar 30, 2025 [ VOL 25 , NO 1300]

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