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Traveling last year whether for business or leisure was practically non-existent.

The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown necessitated countries to close down borders and enforce strict measures to control the further spread of the virus.

All these factors, however, did not prevent global financial advisory firm Arton Capital from ranking the world's most powerful passports in 2021.

The ranking was based on a passport's mobility score. A mobility score pertains to the total number of countries that a passport can easily access visa-free or visa on arrival.

Germany holds the top spot with a mobility score of 134 and world reach of 67%.

Tied at the second spot are the countries Sweden, Finland, and Spain with 133 mobility scores.

Earning identical scores of 132 are Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and New Zealand for third place.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Austria, Luxembourg, Italy, Greece, Ireland, and the United Kingdom share the fourth spot with a 131 mobility score.

Securing the fifth spot with 130 mobility scores each are Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Japan, and South Korea.

Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Iceland land at sixth place with identical scores of 129.

Nabbing the seventh spot with a score of 128 are Malta, Slovakia, and Australia.

Sharing the number eight spot are Cyprus and Liechtenstein with scores of 127.

Gathering a score of 126 are Croatia and Romania good for the ninth spot.

Bulgaria, meanwhile, occupies the 10th spot with a mobility score of 125.

Interestingly, the USA ranks 19th behind Canada, Uruguay, Vatican City, Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, San Marino, and Monaco.

The Philippines is at the 61st spot with a mobility score of 52. Joining us in that rank are Benin, India, Algeria, Gabon, and Bhutan.

“COVID-19 caused major disruptions to mobility, hindering international travel, revoking existing visas to citizens and visitors, and rendering passport powers to all-time lows,” said the report.

Countries that have high COVID-19 infections and deaths, as well as those that handled the pandemic poorly, suffered from extended travel restrictions thus affecting their rankings as well.

The success of the vaccination programs in each of the countries in the coming months is being watched closely by travel and tourism players as it would serve as an indication of how the industry would move forward throughout the year and beyond.

Traveling to foreign places is no doubt fun and exciting but with the many COVID-19-related restrictions in place, not to mention the inconvenience of obtaining a visa at this point, why not explore the Philippines first?

Our country, after all, is teeming with beautiful spots at par with its foreign counterparts. Take a look at the many travel awards that the Philippines had won last year.