June 14 2024 The meteoric rise of the digital nomad as a customer segment has exposed gaps in insurance and banking provision that imaginative startups have started to fill. Natalie Marchant explores the world of the remote worker, the risks and benefits “The biggest thing for me is being able to travel and learn more about myself and the world,” says business consultant John Munn, explaining why he joined the 35-million-strong tribe of digital nomads. Munn describes himself as a ‘time optimisation expert’ who – perhaps appropriately – helps entrepreneurs work less.
He also runs an environmental business that helps clients offset their carbon emissions with his partner Eliana Vanekova. Together, the 29-year-olds have spent much of the past few years working remotely – most notably in Spain and Thailand, but they also used those as bases to explore further afield. And they’re far from alone in escaping the traditional 9-5 work routine.
The number of digital nomads looks set to soar, with more than 50 countries around the world now offering specific visas to capitalise on the growing trend for a self-determined work routine. Indeed, a recent study showed that Google searches for ‘digital nomad visa’ went up by a staggering 1,135 per cent this year, prompted by the addition of Spain and Italy to the ever-growing nomad-friendly list. Just as the booming digital nomad sector offers opportunities for local economies, particularly in parts of the world badly hit .