Remote work has spread across the world at an unprecedented speed, and many have experienced the pleasure of working from bed, the living room, or the backyard, who, had it not been for the pandemic lockdown, would never have had the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of working in pajamas. However, this is not the ultimate reach. There are those who have not had their ergonomic chair and desk in an office for years, but instead work using a laptop from various parts of the globe while experiencing what life is like elsewhere. They travel from country to country, staying in each place for several months, which is why we call them digital nomads. Millions of people lead such lives, and after the pandemic, it is expected that this type of workforce will gain a significant new following. In all of this, Croatia has found its place.
At the beginning of August, Estonia introduced the world’s first visa for digital nomads, and a similar scenario could happen in our country, considering that the first meeting between Jana de Jong, the owner of Webpower Adria who put the topic on the agenda, and representatives of the Ministry of the Interior went very promisingly. However, a working team still needs to be established and many more meetings held to realize the idea, but that is a start. In the digital and printed edition of Lider, we published a lengthy article on this occasion, and now we bring a look at recent events from the perspective of digital nomads who have provided us with much more, advice on how to navigate the new work-travel environment, and what opportunities digital nomads bring to Croatia.
Croatia is becoming increasingly attractive to digital nomads
– Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia are very popular places for digital nomads due to the good price-quality ratio of living, and in Europe, very interesting destinations include Lisbon, London, Berlin, Tallinn, and somewhat Barcelona – emphasizes Gasper Sopi, founder of the creative agency Hyperactive. However, he adds, countries like Bulgaria, Ukraine, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Croatia are becoming increasingly attractive.
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—He does not doubt that Croatia is an ideal destination for this segment of the population and that it should be branded as such. He cites several arguments for this, such as good technological infrastructure, affordable prices, the sea, four seasons, and various recreational activities.
– I believe that the biggest hit would be a ‘nomadic’ visa that would allow such travelers to stay longer without complicated paperwork – says Sopi, who is not a fan of the generalizing term digital nomads, but given that he has worked while living in Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Morocco, England, the USA, Norway, Spain, and Kosovo, he is a true example of this new type of workforce.
The introduction of a nomadic visa is an incredible opportunity for Croatian tourism and destination branding, but also a solution to the biggest problem faced by digital nomads, the so-called ‘visa run’, or the necessity of going to a neighboring country to achieve a longer stay in a country. Tourist visas typically last only 90 days.
You don’t have to be filthy rich
Sopi believes that the stereotype that one must be filthy rich to travel and work needs to be broken.
– The world is not a scary place; you can live and work freely and without much money. In fact, you don’t need to do anything special to become a digital nomad. It is not studied, and there are no courses for it. Today, anyone can learn a monetizable skill online, from design and programming to copywriting, accounting, and so on. Almost everything can be done ‘digitally’ from anywhere on the planet – he explains, noting that one important component of getting to know other societies and civilizations should not be overlooked. It is transformative and has the potential to change not only the individual but also the collective, both locally and globally.
– It is a step towards Lennon’s world without borders. Just imagine – Sopi is inspiring as he explains how everything can have a deeper, spiritual dimension instead of just the cool-touristy ‘I travel the world, consume in cheap countries, and collect stamps in my passport’.
Of course, life on the road has its challenges. He reveals that his biggest challenge has been the lack of a quality and stable internet connection, without which it is difficult to work. Since digital nomads are not a homogeneous group, not everyone faces the same challenges. Some miss their own creative corner they are used to at home, while others, due to being frequently on the move, find it hard to establish long-lasting friendships. However, all this does not sound like a sufficient reason to give up and stay at home.
