The Remote Work Spectrum: From Short-term Workations to Nomadic Living
Diving into the diverse lifestyles of today's global workforce to uncover the shifting patterns of work and travel
If I stay in a hotel for 2 weeks in a foreign country and work from my laptop, am I a digital nomad (DN)?
I’m not a classic vacation tourist because I will be combining work with leisure. I’m also not a business tourist as I don’t have any business obligations (e.g. conference or meeting) at my destination.
So if I’m not a DN, what am I and why does it even matter?
Today, we'll delve deep into these differences and uncover why they're essential.
There are many definitions and understandings of who is a DN. Researchers like Cook, Reichenberger and others have been trying to pinpoint and make it easier for us to understand the differences between different types of location-independent travelers.
Ultimately, we need to think about who we are talking to on the other side. If we are talking to governments or tourism businesses, we need to simplify things and make them clearer than they are today. They want facts and to know who is this segment of travelers, how can they cater to them and what’s in it for them.
When we mention business tourists to them, they instantly understand the reference.
When we mention sports tourists, they understand who we’re talking about.
But when we mention DNs, many things are still unclear. And it’s not only unclear to them, but it’s also unclear on the side of DNs. In the latest Flatio report, 25.9% of respondents do not define themselves as DNs and it’s blurred how they actually define themselves.
That’s why there’s confusion in today’s DN visas which are actually more inclined to remote workers or expats who would like to set up base for longer periods of time than DNs.
There are advancements, however. In a study I recently read and found interesting, they talk about the difference between “workationers” (an expression I honestly don’t like) and DNs. So what is it?
How are Digital Nomads Different From Workationers?
The main difference is that with DNs, it’s part of their lifestyle to travel and at the same time do their work remotely from different parts of the world. There is usually no (short-term) time limit to their travels.
But with workations, there usually is a time limit. Perhaps these are employees who have a limit for how many days or weeks they can work remotely and be out of the office. They also have more obligations at home so they cannot be away for 6 months per year.
We recently just had a guest at our house who had meetings in Ljubljana but decided to come with his wife 3 days earlier to enjoy the Slovenian countryside. They also worked a bit from their laptops during the day. However, their lifestyle is not nomadic. They combined their work obligations with leisure.
For DNs, seeking a community of like-minded people is of high importance. Especially for those staying in coliving places or working from coworkings. While for workationers, this usually isn’t the case as the workation is more of a temporary escape from their home. They are also more likely to travel with their family.
In the DN circles, choosing locations based on the cost of living is crucial. A lot of DNs initiate geoarbitrage, optimizing their lifestyle by choosing cheaper locations to live in.
While for workationers this is not of main importance because it’s usually an extension of their holidays and we know that we tend to be less price sensitive in that period.
Essentially, it’s the degree of flexibility and lifestyle choice that separates a DN from other less flexible remote workers.
Why does it matter?
All of this is important because of the following aspects:
Crafting better governmental policies and visas: Governments need to understand the distinct needs of location-independent travelers to create tailored visa policies that encourage them while safeguarding local interests.
Creating a better tourism offer: By distinguishing between them, tourism sectors can develop specialized packages, accommodations, or experiences catered to the preferences and lengths of stay of each group.
More positive impact from these travelers: Recognizing the different patterns and habits of remote workers can allow communities to better harness their potential for local economic growth and cultural exchange.
Better inclusion with host communities: Integration is key. Remote workers, when understood and catered to, can foster deeper connections with local communities, leading to better experiences and mutual benefits.
Future Trends for Digital Nomads and Workationers
Understanding the nuances between DNs and workationers is important. Both bring their unique aspects to the places they visit, impacting local economies and cultures in diverse ways. By distinguishing between them, we not only cater to their needs more efficiently but also open up possibilities for better interactions.
The future is likely to see a surge in both DNs and workationers as remote work becomes further embedded in our global culture. DNs might explore more offbeat paths, pushing the boundaries, while workationers could increasingly merge leisure and work, blurring the lines of traditional vacations and hospitality. As this unfolds, adapting our systems, both at an infrastructural and societal level will be essential to cater to this new wave of global citizens.