Sri Lanka in top notches for digital nomads
Sri Lanka is described as a paradise for nomads on the hotel website, Club Med, and is listed as the second- best country for digital nomads to visit.
The latest data collected by local digital nomads – described as persons who earn a living working online in various locations of their choosing - show that over 50,000 digital nomads currently occupy the island. Sasmini Bandara, a lawyer, a programme manager for Good Life X, an accelerator, and a digital nomad herself told the Business Times that she left her day job to move to southern Hiriketiya which is a popular destination for digital nomads from within the country as well as from abroad. “This area is preferred by them due to surfing and the general lifestyle. Also, Ahangama, and Arugambay are two other areas that are extremely popular with digital nomads,” Ms. Bandara, who quit her original day job to become a digital nomad and travel around, said.
With low living costs and a beautiful working backdrop of lush green mountains, coral reefs, and powdery sand, it is clear to see why Sri Lanka offers such a great remote working experience, says the Club Med website. “The country had a total score of 238 out of 320, boasting average temperatures of 30° C along with ample activities and landmarks for visitors to enjoy.”
Club Med lists Colombo as the fourth in the best places in the world to be a digital nomad with a total index score of 238 out of 320.
“This is a niche market that we should tap as a country and treat like a sector that earns foreign exchange because that is what it is,” an industry analyst pointed out. Through this sector, the country can earn immediate foreign exchange without any promotion.
According to Ms. Bandara, digital nomads from Germany, Australia, and the UK have settled in Hiriketiya. “Some stay for about six months and shift to another country. They mainly come for the beauty and stay for the locality. Their jobs range from being venture capitalists to yoga teachers and lifestyle artists.”
Industry analysts point out that what digital nomads need is a separate visa category with six months stay and extendable up to two years with an allowance to open a bank account locally. “They need a minimum inflow commitment of US$6,000 in six months and work- friendly accommodation, a high- speed Internet package along with resident visa benefits such as discounted rates in visiting locations. Centrally paid public transport system via a mobile app/ wallet will also be helpful.
In this regard, Indonesia has the equation right. Around 95 per cent of surveyed digital nomads have said Indonesia -particularly Bali -- is their “top of mind” destination for remote work and they are ready to travel, its Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said in a recent television interview.