Digital nomads, a trend that has grown over the past few years and gained steam with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, is driving the gentrification.
Remote work allows any employee to choose the country or city in which he lives, which makes residents of some places feel that the nature of the neighborhoods they lived in is always changing due to the influence of new residents. This is a growing concern not only on the part of the local population but also on the part of the politicians responsible for urban planning.
Previously, most digital nomads who illegally travel and work on tourist visas were considered a niche phenomenon. Currently this is no longer necessary and the number of such workers has increased exponentially, not only in Portugal but in the rest of the world.
In the United States, it is estimated that there are about 16.9 million, an increase of 131% from the pre-pandemic year. Data shows that as many as 72 million people in this country are considering becoming a nomadic, a change driven by the pandemic that has made remote work a global phenomenon, with many negative consequences, including an increase in the cost of living for those with low wages and no Can keep up with rising housing prices.
These conditions force residents to leave the place where they were born and raised at a time when landlords prefer to rent out their properties to professionals who rent on a short-term basis. However, this factor also works in the opposite direction, namely that “some people become digital nomads because of housing prices in their home countries,” commented sociologist Max Holleran, according to Publico.
There are many digital nomads depending on the direction they are pursuing i.e. business owners; experimental; Couch and wage earners. In the latter case, full-time employees now working remotely in the US grew from 3.2 million in 2019 to 11.1 million last year.
This phenomenon is changing the way cities organize themselves. One such example is Chiang Mai, located in northern Thailand, and is often called the “digital nomad capital of the world.” Nimmanhaemin is also known for the number of people who work in coffee shops and co-working spaces and who live in places like Airbnb.
Neighborhoods and quiet places are now more vibrant and bustling than ever, allowing for a mix of residents and remote workers, which has its pros and cons, but it doesn’t do without balance.
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”