The Tanzanian passport was ranked 74th globally in the latest mobility rankings and maintained its place as the 9th most powerful in Africa.
The latest Henley Passport Index report, based on official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), reveals the number of destinations passport holders can access without a prior visa.
The number of countries Tanzanian passport holders can visit without a visa or get one on arrival has risen to 72 from 70 a couple of years ago.
On the African continent, the latest Henley Global Passport Index Report ranks Mauritius first, South Africa second and Tanzania ninth in terms of ease of travel.
For the past 18 years, the index’s publishers have been using it to show the link between passport strength and access to the global economy.
This year’s index reveals that just 6% of passports worldwide grant their holders visa-free access to more than 70% of the global economy.
Analysts say that with global travel improving, but not to pre-pandemic levels, a lower ranking on the index could mean that citizens of a particular country do not have opportunities for economic mobility and growth.
East African countries, including Tanzania, began implementing chip-embedded passports for their citizens last year to combat counterfeiting and spoofing.
The East African Community hopes this will strengthen the region’s passport and open up more economic and travel opportunities for citizens. -Reporting by Isaac Lukando from Dar es Salaam
