Airbnb’s digital nomads program looks at Italy

 

Last April, Airbnb launched the Live and Work Anywhere program globally with the intent to identify the most suitable destinations and collaborate with local authorities and tourism promotion companies to equip and promote these territories as real “hubs” for digital nomads.

This is a unique opportunity for Italy, given that the platform only in the first 3 months of the year has seen an increase in searches for solo and long-term travel in Italy country by 90% compared to the same pre-war period. The selected destinations have been chosen for their attractiveness. Or because they are in step with the regulatory or administrative changes necessary to accommodate those who choose to live and work remotely in a different area from that of residence.

The truths out and becoming a modern-day nomad means to break free from the shackles of a 9-5 life. As Monsuni reported, local administrations are eagerly looking to attract these workers, investing in logistics, international marketing, and network infrastructures.

With this initiative, Airbnb wants to contribute to the economic growth of the areas identified: research conducted by the Harvard Business School shows that, while digital nomads and distance workers can be beneficial to any economy, they could play a key role in fostering entrepreneurship in the communities in which they would reside, creating “technology clusters” around the world. The programme also aims to stimulate the redevelopment of local real estate and expenditure on services (transport, culture, sport, health, catering) and telecommunications infrastructure.

The Italian Government has recently approved the Decree “Sostegni-ter“, regulating the figure of the “Digital Nomad”.  Italian cities and territories need to attract distance workers during low season periods. The intent is to achieve a redistribution of the places where people travel and live.

Live and Work Anywhere mention the North-East region of Friuli Venezia-Giulia and the Southern city of Brindisi among the 20 preferred destinations by remote workers.

 

Photo credits: Kilroy.