Finland, Canada, the Netherlands, the UAE, the UK, Italy, the U.S., and India, are among countries conducting trials of passport-free travel systems, according to Techspot.

U.S.'s passports.

In Singapore, citizens are already able to enter and exit the country without a physical passport, and this option will soon be available to foreign visitors.

The technology behind these advancements is the Digital Travel Credential (DTC), developed by the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization.

The DTC combines a virtual component containing passport-like data, with a physical element stored on the traveler's smartphone, cryptographically linked to ensure authenticity and prevent forgery.

Early trials have shown promising results. In Finland, a pilot project demonstrated identity verification in just 8 seconds, with technical processing taking only 2 seconds.

While the prospect of shorter queues at airports is appealing, the shift to digital documents raises concerns about privacy and security. Experts warn about the lack of transparency in the technology, the potential for data breaches, and the risks of increased surveillance.

"We don’t really know how secure these systems are," says Udbhav Tiwari, director of global product policy at software organization Mozilla.

Adam Tsao, who leads digital identity efforts at Entrust, emphasizes the need for precise, controlled data sharing—only providing necessary information, for limited timeframes, to relevant parties. However, achieving this precision is challenging, he told Wired.

The implementation of such systems has met with controversy.

In India, the Digi Yatra face-recognition boarding system has faced criticism over its introduction and the mandatory nature of the system.

The Digi Yatra system is currently in operation at 24 airports across India, with plans to extend it to foreign citizens by 2025.

Hoa Binh named among world's most beautiful destinations: US magazine

The northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh has been listed among the 71 most beautiful places to visit worldwide by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller.

Visitors to Fansipan to be charged entrance fees from January 2025

The authorities of Sapa Town have announced that sightseeing fees will be charged to visitors to Mount Fansipan and Cat Cat Waterfall starting from January 1, 2025.

Experiencing a tour in the sky by paragliding over Khau Pha Mountain Pass

Khau Pha Mountain Pass is renowned not only for the terrific terraced rice fields but also as an ideal destination for adventure lovers who are passionate about conquering the skies through paragliding. From above, the landscape of Mu Cang Chai District becomes shimmering and ethereal, offering a fresh perspective filled with emotions.

Hanoi - Thai Nguyen tourism train starts trial run

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Transport of the northern province of Thai Nguyen and Vietnam Railway Corporation on December 28 launched the trial run of a Hanoi-Thai Nguyen tourism train.

Awakening the tourism potential of Tuyen Quang

In the post-pandemic economic recovery period, Tuyen Quang has recorded remarkable achievements in tourism, trade, and services. In particular, tourism stimulus programmes along with the development of many new service products have created an important revenue source for the province, while strengthening Tuyen Quang’s position on the national tourism map and affirming its attractiveness and development potential.