Travel

with DALLAS SHERRINGHAM with DALLAS SHERRINGHAM WORKING OFFICE ON THE ROAD

Joining the digital nomads

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

We’ve all heard the term grey nomads, but a new group known as digital nomads has evolved as a result of the COVID pandemic

By 2035 more than one billion people around the world are predicted to be living and working as digital nomads as advances in technology, remote working and workplace culture continue to grow.

According to predictions, this global nomadic workforce, capable of plugging in anywhere in the world with a decent internet connection, will make up one in every three employees.

There are already 35 million digital nomads worldwide, with the trend being driven by technology, growing demand for fl exible workspace and the increasing adoption of hybrid work.

I joined this growing movement in Australia recently, setting up my offi ce in the annex of my caravan at Budgewoi Caravan Park. It is a fabulous way to work, but I have drawn up a list of essential ‘needs’ if you want to do it successfully.

What is a digital nomad?

A digital nomad is a remote worker who travels and works simultaneously, visiting locations nationwide and worldwide, working from beaches, coff ee shops and coworking spaces.

Some digital nomads only travel for a few months and others do it for years. Research suggests that 80% of digital nomads prefer to stay in one location for three to nine months.

Offi ce advisory service Instant Offi ces has ranked almost 80 locations on aff ordability, weather, broadband speed and more to reveal the best places to be a digital nomad in 2022.

Unsurprisingly, over half the cities analysed in the top 60 are in Asia. Cities like Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong off er captivating travel experiences, scenery and food alongside stellar connectivity, infrastructure and a manageable cost of living.

Top cities for digital nomads in Asia

Rank City,Country

1 Bangkok, Thailand 2 Seoul, South Korea 3 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 4 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 5 Delhi, India 6 Hong Kong, China 7 Beijing, China 8 Jakarta,India 9 Kathmandu, Nepal 10 Shanghai, China 11 Singapore 12 Taipei, Taiwan 13 Istanbul, Turkey 14 Tokyo, Japan 15 Hanoi, Vietnam 16 Phnom Penh, Cambodia 17 Osaka, Japan 18 Jerusalem, Israel 19 Kyoto, Japan 20 Manila, Philippines

Bustling metropolises across Central, East, South, Southeast and Western Asia are perfect for digital nomads who want to explore some of the world’s most iconic business centres and enjoy a continent full of exciting travel opportunities and sights.

Demand for fl exible offi ce space in places like Singapore and Hong Kong is high as more people look to new ways of using workspace, meaning you can easily fi nd creative coworking spaces, meeting rooms and serviced offi ces to work from as you travel.

Connectivity is also second to none. Singapore boasts the fastest average broadband speed in this ranking, at 256 Mbps, while Jakarta has more than 97,000 wi-fi hotspots across the city.

Neighboring countries in Asia-Pacifi c also feature high on the list for digital nomads, with Australia and New Zealand both off ering plenty of coworking space, delicious cuisine, travel opportunities and probably most appealing of all, unparalleled sunny weather.

Travel while you work

Trends in commercial property refl ect the general movement towards increased workplace fl exibility. .As the role of the offi ce changes and fl exibility increases globally, more people will be able to travel and work virtually anywhere.

Market forecasts show fl exible workspace as a proportion of the total offi ce market will grow from 5% to almost 13% by 2025

DAL’S TOP 10 TIPS

• Good communications are vital at all times.

Zoom for face-to-face meetings. • Make sure you have a portable wifi system.

Caravan and accommodation wifi systems are notoriously bad. • A comfortable chair and a generous size foldup table if you are camping or caravanning. • If a laptop is not possible, use a portable keyboard with your phone screen. • Backup everything on a portable hard drive. • Download and backup photos from your phone and camera daily. • Extra batteries for your camera. • Small, portable printer is always useful. • Keep a handwritten diary of your trip and expenses. • Business cards for the journey – you never know when they will come in handy.

TRENDS

$20M FOR ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS Driving boast in electric cars

UP to 3500 electric vehicle (EV) chargers will be rolled out across regional NSW, with the NSW Government offering $20M in grants to establish Australia’s largest destination charging network.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the co-funded grants, ranging from $2000 to $40,000 per site for EV chargers across regional NSW, would boost regional tourism and were part of a $171M investment in EV charging over the next four years.

“EVs are growing in popularity and this will help ensure our regional areas have the charging stations needed to welcome EV-driving visitors,” Mr Kean said.

The EV destination charging grants will be off ered on a co-funded basis for the purchase and installation of electric vehicle (EV) chargers in regional areas, which can provide a top-up of up to 130km of range in an hour.

A range of destinations across regional NSW can apply for the grants, including motels, wineries, cafes, restaurants, natural attractions, visitor information centres, museums and zoos.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said a series of EV tourist drives would also be developed across the state to promote EV travel across regional NSW, following the rollout of the EV chargers.

“This will grow local economies and support small businesses in areas impacted by Covid, bushfi res and fl oods,” Mr Farraway said.

The NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to increase EV sales to 52 per cent of all new car sales by 2030-31, and the vast majority by 2035.

Funding under the strategy also includes a $131 million investment for ultra-fast charging infrastructure and a $20 million investment in EV charging in commuter car parks, creating a world class charging network across the state.

The EV destination charging grants can be used for the purchase and installation of select electric vehicle (EV) chargers as well as software to tap into the smart capabilities of each charger. This includes: • 75 per cent towards buying up to four alternating current (AC) destination chargers per site location. • 75 per cent towards charger installation (capped at $1000 per charger). • 50 per cent towards a two-year charger software subscription.

Electric car charging.