Many people have been working from home over the past decade. But this year, there is an exponential increase in the remote workforce.
Between 2008 and 2018, there has been a 74% increase in the number of employees working outside the office.
This year's number is impressive. More than 50% of employees are currently working from home in the UK. The figure is similar in the US. It means that more than half of the workforce in each of these countries are already remote workers.
What will remote work look like in the future? Is this trend leading to an increased number of digital nomad community? Are we going to travel less but stay longer at the destination of our choice?
DIGITAL NOMAD EXPLAINED
Digital nomads are people that work online, and all they need is a high-speed internet connection. Thus, they can have a temporary office on the beach, in a cafe, on a train, in a park, or wherever the internet is fast and accessible enough. For this reason, digital nomads like to switch up the places and countries they work because they are their employers or are rarely obliged to meet their employers.
They are mostly IT experts, writers, journalists, designers, or various creatives. The list of jobs that can be done remotely due to technological advances and online tools development is significant every few months.
Digital nomads could become a new revenue-generating trend, especially when it comes to younger age groups, those without families and school children, but perhaps also families who tend to move their lives from destination to destination. Millennials—with their desire to explore and travel—are embracing the possibility of working from anywhere.
Many factors contribute to independent workers' ability to become digital nomads.
The corona crisis pointed to these opportunities, and it seems that Croatia is a great digital nomad destination.
To point out a few reasons:
- great connectivity: almost every cafe in the country has free WiFi
- more than 80% of the population speaks English
- a strong tradition of tourism and hospitality
- lower cost of living than most of the EU
- fantastic climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine in some parts of Dalmatia
- relaxed lifestyle
- one of the safest countries in Europe when it comes to crime and security
THE ISLAND OF HVAR AS A DESTINATION FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
There will be a projected one billion digital nomads in the world by 2035. A shift in the global economy and work pattern is changing rapidly.
And Croatia has so many advantages to get a sizable part of that business. Digital nomads would stay longer, spend more, many of them out of season.
The working day of a digital nomad is just like any other for someone working online. Deadlines, phone calls, emails, contact with bosses and colleagues, all this is done remotely.
What is different is that each morning starts with a swim before work and a swim after work. You can shop in the market, drink coffee in the cafes, eat in the restaurants, or order catering to your home address. You can learn Croatian if you want to get the most out of the community experience. Friends and family can come to visit.
You can enjoy many advantages of living on Hvar Island, such as more than 300 hundred sunny days in one year, enjoying local Mediterranean food, some of the world's best fine wines. Swimming on the most beautiful beaches in the world.
After a working day like this, you will be motivated, full of energy and inspiration.
Hvar is soothing for your soul, mind, and body, and soon you will feel like you have lived here your whole life. Hvar ignites in you a strong sense of belonging.
The digital nomad way is about much more than merely a good WiFi connection. It is a lifestyle choice, where people want to experience excellent living conditions to complement their online working day. Destinations that are safe, beautiful, have great food and wine, lots of activities, the chance to meet people and build a temporary social life.
All the key factors are in place to position Croatia as an essential player in this profitable sector. All that is required is to understand better the exact needs of this new breed of visitors.
Next time we'll explain more details for you if you consider becoming a digital nomad in Croatia, chiefly Hvar Island.
