4 minute read
Travel
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
