How to Attract Digital Nomads? The Sea and Visas Help, but They Are Not the Key, a New Study Shows

So-called digital nomads—people who work remotely from anywhere—have become a major focus of interest for countries and local governments alike. But what reliably attracts them? And why are some destinations more popular among digital nomads than others? Answers to these questions are provided by a new study published in the journal Tourism Geographies, co-authored by Marko Orel from the Faculty of Business Administration at the Prague University of Economics and Business.

With the rapid development of technology and the growing number of jobs that allow remote work, more people have taken this concept literally, carrying out their work tasks while travelling or from wherever they are temporarily staying—even on the other side of the planet. The number of digital nomads has grown so significantly that many destinations and entire countries are now looking for ways to attract them and tap into their economic potential, which is often higher than that of conventional tourists.

“Digital nomads usually stay longer than traditional tourists, which makes them a much more stable source of income for the local economy. At the same time, they often avoid peak tourist seasons and traditional tourist infrastructure, helping to diversify income beyond peak periods,” explains Marko Orel, who has long focused on research into work in digital environments.

“Digital nomads are also attractive to cities and countries because, in addition to spending money, they can contribute to the development of local innovation ecosystems thanks to the nature of their work and their mindset. They stimulate the creation of coworking spaces and other entrepreneurial activities,” Orel adds.

Islands Have an Advantage—As Long as They Have Internet

So how can destinations attract digital nomads effectively? In the new study, Orel and his colleagues examined a sample of 50 countries that are members of the World Bank Small States Forum. They compared supply-side factors such as the level of institutional development, tourism services, and geographic location, as well as demand-side factors including internet availability, accommodation, and coworking spaces.

Well-developed infrastructure for internet connectivity, coworking spaces, and suitable accommodation proved to be a key prerequisite for a destination’s popularity among digital nomads—regardless of the overall level of traditional tourism. “This means that even lesser-known places can succeed among digital nomads. To attract them, a destination does not need to build mass tourism, but should instead invest strategically in high-quality internet, coworking spaces, and accommodation suitable for medium-term stays,” Orel explains.

However, factors beyond the control of policymakers also play a major role. The study shows that island states are significantly more attractive to digital nomads. Access to the sea is therefore a major advantage, as is geographic proximity to Europe or North America.

Good air connectivity and the availability of special digital nomad visas are also beneficial. On their own, however, these factors cannot compensate for shortcomings in the everyday infrastructure for living and working that digital nomads require.

According to the study, relatively wealthy island states with above-average digital readiness, good air accessibility, and a high density of coworking spaces and accommodation perform particularly well among digital nomads. These include Malta, Cyprus, Iceland, Barbados, and the Bahamas. By contrast, Pacific island nations such as Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu scored poorly.

Why This Matters for the Czech Republic

Although the study focuses on small states, its conclusions are, according to Orel, transferable to other destinations, including locations in the Czech Republic. “If a city wants to attract nomads, it doesn’t need the sea. In addition to formal permits, it simply needs to offer what people require for a modern way of working and living—especially affordable medium-term housing, high-quality urban infrastructure and services, and above all, ubiquitous and stable internet connectivity,” Orel concludes.