Asia-Pacific and Americas top visa openness

Countries in the Asia Pacific and the Americas are the most accessible regions in the world for tourists to visit, according to a new report.

The United National World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) claimed 20% of the world's population do not need a visa to visit an Asian destination, while a similar number can get a visa on arrival. The research found some 7% could obtain an e-visa.

In the Americas, 31% of visitors did not require a visa, with 8% being able to get a visa on arrival and 1% through an e-visa.

Worldwide, some 18% of the population were not required to have a visa when travelling for holidays last year, the figures found.

Taleb Rifai, UNWTO secretary general, said: "Important strides have been made in recent times in terms of visa facilitation as more and more countries understand its implicit economic benefits."