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While London is indeed a global city, access is very much not equal. Immigration/tourism requirements are always the strictest against the very countries who w

While London is indeed a global city, access is very much not equal. Immigration/tourism requirements are always the strictest against the very countries who were plundered during colonial times, in comparison to rich countries with an imperial past/present. Most of the world will never visit the UK. Most of the value that the British museum supplies goes back to the UK in the form of tourism and to close allies of the UK in terms of exposure to these artifacts.

Cyph0n 2y ago
Exactly. The majority of HN users have a privilege that they are not even aware of: visa-free/on arrival access to a large chunk of the world.
matwood 2y ago
What place is easier for 'most of the world' to visit?
- jogjayr 2y ago
  Singapore allows visa-free travel to passport holders from 159 countries + many more with an e-visa or visa on arrival. The UK allows only 83 countries' passport holders visa-free. I picked Singapore at random. Probably some other country is even more visitor-friendly. https://embassies.net/singapore-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/singapore-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/united-kingdom-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/united-kingdom-visa-exemption
  - kelipso 2y ago
    Though you got lucky with Singapore, it is famously known to have the strongest passport and visa-free agreements are usually reciprocal.
  - matwood 2y ago
    ChatGPT included Singapore and London in it's list of 'easiest' cities to visit, but picked Dubai as the main one because of centrality. The “easiest” city to visit for the majority of the world depends on several factors, such as accessibility, flight connections, visa requirements, and infrastructure. However, based on these considerations, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is often cited as one of the easiest cities for global travelers to visit. Here’s why: 1. Geographical Location: Dubai is centrally located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it a natural hub for international travel. Most of the world’s population is within an 8-hour flight of Dubai. 2. Major International Airport: Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the busiest airports globally, with direct flights to over 240 cities across six continents. Emirates Airline, based in Dubai, has extensive routes connecting the world. 3. Visa Policies: The UAE has relatively flexible visa policies. Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival, while others have access to electronic visas or straightforward visa processes. 4. Tourism Infrastructure: Dubai is extremely tourist-friendly with world-class hotels, transport systems, and tourist attractions. 5. Political Stability and Safety: Dubai is considered a safe and politically stable city, which adds to its appeal for international visitors. Other cities like Istanbul, Singapore, or London also offer excellent global connectivity and infrastructure, but Dubai’s visa policies and central location make it a standout.
jahewson 2y ago
> Immigration/tourism requirements are always the strictest against the very countries who were plundered during colonial times Trivially false. The UK has strict requirements for Russia, a former imperial power. The USA was formerly 13 British colonies and has few restrictions.
- jogjayr 2y ago
  The USA wasn't plundered as a colony.
- comte7092 2y ago
  The USA is a current imperial power and built atop of a genocide against its native population. The US as an entity has no history that would be relevant to a historical plunder carried out by the British. Russia is currently in direct conflict with the UK (specifically financial and indirect military support to Ukraine, obviously not with regards to a hot war). Whereas that is not the case with any African nations I am aware of, yet many of those nations face significant travel restrictions not faced by a pre Ukraine invasion Russian population.

Cyph0n 2y ago

Exactly. The majority of HN users have a privilege that they are not even aware of: visa-free/on arrival access to a large chunk of the world.

matwood 2y ago

What place is easier for 'most of the world' to visit?

jogjayr 2y ago
Singapore allows visa-free travel to passport holders from 159 countries + many more with an e-visa or visa on arrival. The UK allows only 83 countries' passport holders visa-free. I picked Singapore at random. Probably some other country is even more visitor-friendly. https://embassies.net/singapore-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/singapore-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/united-kingdom-visa-exemption https://embassies.net/united-kingdom-visa-exemption
- kelipso 2y ago
  Though you got lucky with Singapore, it is famously known to have the strongest passport and visa-free agreements are usually reciprocal.
- matwood 2y ago
  ChatGPT included Singapore and London in it's list of 'easiest' cities to visit, but picked Dubai as the main one because of centrality. The “easiest” city to visit for the majority of the world depends on several factors, such as accessibility, flight connections, visa requirements, and infrastructure. However, based on these considerations, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is often cited as one of the easiest cities for global travelers to visit. Here’s why: 1. Geographical Location: Dubai is centrally located between Europe, Asia, and Africa, making it a natural hub for international travel. Most of the world’s population is within an 8-hour flight of Dubai. 2. Major International Airport: Dubai International Airport (DXB) is one of the busiest airports globally, with direct flights to over 240 cities across six continents. Emirates Airline, based in Dubai, has extensive routes connecting the world. 3. Visa Policies: The UAE has relatively flexible visa policies. Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival, while others have access to electronic visas or straightforward visa processes. 4. Tourism Infrastructure: Dubai is extremely tourist-friendly with world-class hotels, transport systems, and tourist attractions. 5. Political Stability and Safety: Dubai is considered a safe and politically stable city, which adds to its appeal for international visitors. Other cities like Istanbul, Singapore, or London also offer excellent global connectivity and infrastructure, but Dubai’s visa policies and central location make it a standout.

jahewson 2y ago

> Immigration/tourism requirements are always the strictest against the very countries who were plundered during colonial times Trivially false. The UK has strict requirements for Russia, a former imperial power. The USA was formerly 13 British colonies and has few restrictions.

jogjayr 2y ago
The USA wasn't plundered as a colony.
comte7092 2y ago
The USA is a current imperial power and built atop of a genocide against its native population. The US as an entity has no history that would be relevant to a historical plunder carried out by the British. Russia is currently in direct conflict with the UK (specifically financial and indirect military support to Ukraine, obviously not with regards to a hot war). Whereas that is not the case with any African nations I am aware of, yet many of those nations face significant travel restrictions not faced by a pre Ukraine invasion Russian population.