Several countries across the world have enacted some sort of travel restriction in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Now, some have eased these limitations despite the number of cases climbing in certain areas.
The impact this has had on the travel industry has been detrimental to say the least, but some places have found a way to welcome working travelers into their countries in a safe way.
Barbados, for instance, has launched its “Barbados Welcome Stamp” program that allows visitors to come and work remotely in the country for up to a year. Prime Minister Mia Mottley said that this visa derived from wanting to bring visitors into the country without the stress of time-consuming quarantining and testing. Other countries have introduced a similar program, such as Bermuda, Estonia and Georgia.
This move will likely have a major impact on the digital nomad population, who are traditionally younger workers who travel and work from wherever they want. With remote working officially hitting the mainstream, it is clear that these two worlds will collide.
Companies small and large have adopted remote working policies indefinitely, which opens up the opportunity for more professionals to travel while working.
Ultimately, the potential boost in digital nomads will depend on how companies adapt to flexibility in the future. If the expansion of remote working options from major companies like Google and Twitter indicate anything, flexible working is here to stay.