Digital nomads: the rising trend in the new world
Cyprus International University (CIU) Faculty of Engineering, Chair of the Department of Computer Engineering Assist. Prof. Dr. Devrim Seral made statements about "Digital Nomad", in other words "Digital Nomadism" which has become the new working way of the Millennial. Assist. Prof. Dr. Seral reminded that the number of digital nomads has increased significantly due to the necessity of working remotely, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Seral added that the pandemic has weakened, but now many institutions and organizations all over the world, regardless of being public or private, have switched to working remotely.
Stating that the term digital nomadism has been used a lot lately, Seral said that this concept was first used for people on the go who were browsing the Internet on their portable computers in the early 1990s.
Assist. Prof. Dr. Seral noted that digital nomads can work in many different fields and sectors, and added that “In addition to the jobs directly related to the computer field such as software development and system management, they also work in areas such as virtual assistant, online marketing, customer service, online education, digital content production and graphic design.”
Noting that millions of people around the world are earning their living in this way, Seral explained that, "These people do not have to be tied to a certain office environment, city or country while carrying out their work; the world has now become a wide geography of life for digital nomads."
Assist. Prof. Dr. Seral expressed that today countries offer many conveniences to attract digital nomads to their own countries, “For example, the state of Malta is trying to make it attractive for digital nomads to choose their country by highlighting 300 days of sunshine, mild climate features and the widespread use of the English language.” Sear also said that in order to ensure that digital nomads come to Southern Cyprus, they offer visa facilities and tax advantages to digital nomads provided they stay for a maximum of 6 months.
Devrim Seral stated that digital nomads are generally preferred because they are well-educated with good income and spend their earnings in the country of residence. Seral pointed out the importance of attracting these nomads to Northern Cyprus.
Pointing out that Northern Cyprus is not yet an attractive country for digital nomads due to the internet infrastructure problems and especially the current unstable power supply in the country, Seral said, "However, if the government comes up with policies to resolve such issues, our country can become a center of attraction for digital nomads."