Pól Ó Conghaile’s ‘workations’

If the future of work is remote, do you really need to stay right where you are? Tourist hotspots are rebranding as ‘workation’ destinations for when lockdown lifts, writes Pól Ó Conghaile

Remember those remote workers we loved to hate before the pandemic? Bloggers posting from beach bars, entrepreneurs checking in from exotic Airbnbs, influencers and digital nomads ticking off their bucket lists… well, now you too can be like them! Well, not now exactly — but hopefully in the not-too-distant future, when infection rates come down, vaccination rates go up and it’s safe to travel once again. Remote working is a trend rocket-fuelled by the Covid-19 pandemic, and with tourism in collapse all over the world, destinations are racing to attract a new kind of visitor — the long-stay ‘workationer’.

From Barbados to the Algarve, destinations say it’s a win-win. Employees stuck at home get to ditch the ‘boffice’ for the chance to explore beyond their four walls and 5k. And their presence (and cash) helps to sustain hotels, Airbnbs, car rentals and restaurants emptied of their tourists.

Some call them ‘Digital Nomad Visas’. Others have tweaked remote working rules. Typically, workers have to prove that they are employed and meet minimum income criteria. Quarantines may be necessary too. But the idea is a long stay makes all the hoop-jumping worthwhile.

Before you pack your bags, a quick dash of realism. Don’t forget to familiarise yourself with travel restrictions at both ends, and check out any tax issues and what you need by way of health insurance. The Caribbean isn’t going to cut it for everyone — your job may require you to be present, or you may be a parent of school-age kids, or have pets, for example. But for those that have spent a year logging on from tiny apartments or childhood bedrooms, WFH could be a golden ticket.