Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka seek digital nomads' skills and money

Visa programs in South and Southeast Asia aim to draw border-hopping remote workers

20240918N PH beach

A beach in Boracay Island, the Philippines. South and Southeast Asian countries are popular with digital nomads for their warm weather and cheap prices. © Reuters

KOSUKE INOUE, RYOSUKE HANADA and YUKI FUJITA, Nikkei staff writers

BANGKOK/MUMBAI/MANILA -- South and Southeast Asian countries are opening their doors wider to "digital nomads," offering long-stay visas to a group they hope will in turn strengthen their own economies.

The number of digital nomads -- workers not tied to a specific location, often in the technology sector or self-employed -- has soared with the rise in remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. They often opt to operate out of popular tourist destinations.

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