And as we plan our destinations for the year I’m reminded of my globetrotting Bangladeshi pal Asmery.As we post Big Reveal… the passports to access.
We met, where else, than at a Caribbean night in Barbados.
Where impressed by my Dad dancing (it’s all from the bum I was told in Soca class years earlier) we got talking.
And she told me how she had sold all her jewellery years earlier to begin her global odyssey.
But that possessing a Bangladeshi passport had proved a major obstacle along the way.
Which only made me think of the benefits of our own UK passport although that has been diminished by Brexit.
Meaning an Irish one, something I could apply for through my Dear Old Mum is a New Year Resolution I must finally follow through on.
Particularly as new travel friends have first-footed us with advice on the best passports to have.
Quality street
Global Citizen Solutions, a data-driven immigration advisor has unveiled its Quality of Life Index 2024.
Which they say is a tool guiding those seeking not just a change of scenery, but an elevation in the quality of their lives.
Of course, as with everything, Finland tops the list, and the Nordic countries take the first three places.
The Finns, due to their low-income inequality, social support and infrastructure, freedom to make decisions, and low levels of corruption.
With the Swedes on the same page and the Danes especially noted for their work/life balance.
All of which translates into the hygge which is so attractive to visitors.
Index finger
As for the UK, it holds its own in fourth, followed by Germany, neighbours the Netherlands.
Then Ireland, Austria, Spain and New Zealand.
The Index, as you’d imagine, highlights social well-being, but also sustainability.
In all there are six main weights of indicators:
Sustainable Development Goals, Cost of Living, Level of Freedom, Happiness, Environmental Performance and Migrant Acceptance.
With The World Bank, the World Economic Forum and the Sustainable Development Report weighing in with their knowledge.
From the horse’s mouth
‘We believe that a passport is not merely a document; it is a vessel of potential, a gateway to a life well-lived,’ says Patricia Casaburi, Managing Director for Global Citizen Solutions.
‘The Quality of Life index encourages users to explore the boundless possibilities that a passport can offer if you are looking to relocate.
‘But it is also a fantastic tool if you just want to plan your next travel destination.’
All of which is good to know as we plan our next trip this year. The Big Reveal… the passports to access.