Will the pandemic be the end for digital nomads?

[zakiyatasnim]

The digital nomad movement has grown exponentially over the past five years, in part because working remotely has become so easy. According to MBO Partners' State of Independence Research Brief, 4.8 million Americans considered themselves digital nomads in 2018, and another 17 million hoped to become one someday.

The future of the travel industry is currently very uncertain, and it's hard to say when digital nomads will return to their usual lifestyle, and whether it will be the same. Experienced travelers told us what trends we can already observe.

Access to healthcare will become a priority
Cynthia Fortlage, who has worked in IT for three decades and is sweden number data used to working remotely, decided to dedicate 2020 to travel and headed to Colombia in March. She chose to stay there during the pandemic and now considers herself a digital nomad.

She believes that health and safety will become more of a concern than ever before. While many people have purchased travel insurance before traveling (mostly for cost-saving reasons), there was no global threat to worry about back then. Now, before traveling, you will have to study patient statistics and local health authorities' requirements, as well as find the nearest hospitals and find out what services they provide. It will certainly be more difficult than before the pandemic, but for those willing to take the risk, it is still possible.

Part of the appeal of the digital nomad lifestyle is the money it saves. For example, in the US, if you’re out of the country 330 out of 365 days, you only pay tax on the portion of your income over $100,000. It also helps you manage your living expenses: it’s obviously much cheaper to rent an apartment in the Peruvian capital, Lima, than in New York. And if you’re traveling within the same continent, booking your flights in advance, or earning points, flights tend to be cheaper. At least, they used to be.

As airlines struggle to survive, the cost of flights has risen and the number of flights has decreased. While there is currently no data on the long-term impact on the airline industry, it is safe to predict that it will not recover immediately, or even for several months. The same is true for cities that were previously filled with foreigners and remote workers. Because of this, the destinations preferred by digital nomads will change.