Eighteen of the top-20 ranked countries are classified as either lower middle income (ten) or low-income (eight) countries, while only two of the eight upper middle-income countries are in this group. Six of the top-20 are also landlocked. The reasons for accelerating visa openness may vary for lower-income and land-locked countries, but the need to reduce barriers to trade and investment and exploit tourism opportunities are important considerations and deliberate policy responses. Lower income countries may also be less vulnerable to inward migration pressures and may display more open attitudes towards visa openness, compared to higher income countries that may offer more economic opportunities, and which can manifest itself in different sensitivities and perceptions towards open borders and easy entry.
Four of the top-20 ranked countries are Island States, with Cabo Verde and Mauritius inside the top-10, and the latter classified as upper middle income. Island States are in a unique situation with respect to access, as they are typically not part of the same migration and travel routes that would apply to continental African countries, because access is more difficult, and invariably costlier, involving expensive air travel. Their visa policies range from visa-on-arrival (Comoros, Madagascar) to a mix of visa-on-arrival and visa-free policies (Cabo Verde, Mauritius), albeit with Mauritius still requiring a visa ahead of travel from citizens of five African countries.
