Digital Nomads vs. the Tourism Backlash: Is Curaçao the Escape?
- Alwi Suleiman
- 20 hours ago
- 8 min read
Over the past few years, digital nomads have transformed quiet towns into vibrant centers of remote work and international flair. But as this lifestyle gains momentum, it’s also stirring up tension. From the cobbled streets of Lisbon to the beaches of Bali, locals are growing weary of overtourism, and remote workers often find themselves caught in the middle.
So what’s next for today’s globe-trotting professional? Maybe it’s time to look beyond the usual hotspots. Could Curaçao offer a calmer, more balanced alternative?
Rise of Digital Nomadism
Most people think digital nomads were born during the pandemic, but the idea’s been around way longer. The term “digital nomad” first appeared in a 1997 book that envisioned people working from anywhere with just a laptop and internet access. Back then, it felt more like a daydream than a real option.
Then came 2020. Offices shut down, Zoom took over, and suddenly, millions of people realized they didn’t have to stay put. For the first time, working from a beach in Bali or a café in Lisbon didn’t sound crazy - it sounded doable.
But even before COVID, the movement was quietly growing. In the 2010s, a bunch of young professionals started questioning the whole 9-to-5 thing. They wanted freedom, flexibility, and a life that didn’t revolve around fluorescent lights and rush hour traffic. With tech skills, curiosity, and a growing network of coworking spaces and online communities, they turned digital nomadism from a fringe lifestyle into a global shift.
Digital Nomad Visas: A Global Trend
Estonia: The Pioneer
Estonia became the first country to officially launch a digital nomad visa in August 2020, allowing remote workers to legally stay for up to a year while working for companies outside Estonia. It offered two types:
Type C Visa: Short stay (up to 90 days)
Type D Visa: Long stay (up to 1 year)
This move set the stage for dozens of other countries to follow suit, including Croatia, Georgia, Panama, Belize, and Dominica.
Digital Nomad Numbers & Growth Trajectory
The digital nomad lifestyle has taken off like wildfire in the past few years. Thanks to the rise of remote work, more flexible career paths, and a growing desire to live life untethered to one location, millions of people are packing up their laptops and working from wherever they feel most inspired.
In 2023, there were an estimated 35 to 40 million digital nomads around the world - 17.3 million of them in the U.S. alone. That’s a huge leap from just 10.9 million in 2020, showing how quickly this way of life is catching on.
And it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Experts predict the global nomad population could hit 60 million by 2030. Some even suggest it could reach 1 billion by 2030, though that number likely includes a broader mix of remote workers, not just full-time nomads hopping from country to country.
Economic Impact: Billions in Motion
Quantifying the economic footprint of digital nomads is tricky, but the numbers are staggering. According to the Harvard International Review, nomads contribute an estimated $787 billion annually to the global economy. This includes spending on:
Accommodation (Airbnb, hostels, co-living spaces)
Food and leisure
Transportation
Local services like coworking spaces and wellness centers
A study by MBO Partners found that digital nomads spend an average of $787 per month in local economies - more than typical tourists, thanks to longer stays and deeper engagement.
However, this influx isn’t without complications. In popular destinations like Bali, Lisbon, and Mexico City, rising demand for short-term rentals has driven up housing prices, sometimes displacing locals.
Legal Limbo: Neither Tourist Nor Immigrant
Despite their growing numbers, digital nomads often exist in a legal gray zone. Most immigration systems weren’t designed for people who work remotely for foreign employers while living abroad. As a result:
Many nomads rely on tourist visas, which technically don’t permit work; even remote work.
Some countries tolerate this informally, but enforcement varies. In places like Indonesia and the U.S., working on a tourist visa can lead to deportation or bans.
Nomads often resort to border runs - leaving and re-entering a country to reset their visa - which can be risky and unsustainable.
To address this, over 50 countries now offer digital nomad visas, which provide legal clarity and longer stays. These visas typically require:
Proof of remote income (usually $2,000–$4,500/month)
Health insurance
No local employment
Application fees and background checks
Countries like Spain, Portugal, and Costa Rica have embraced these visas, though requirements and enforcement can shift unexpectedly, leaving applicants in bureaucratic limbo.
What Are Digital Nomad Visas Really For?
Governments launched digital nomad visas with high hopes: attract global talent, boost local economies, and position themselves as remote work havens. But the reality has been more complicated and underwhelming.
Unclear Objectives, Mixed Results
A lot of countries rolled out digital nomad visas with big promises of boosting the economy, attracting global talent, and putting themselves on the map as remote work hotspots. But those goals haven’t lined up with reality. Instead of building long-term growth, many of these programs feel more like quick marketing plays than serious immigration strategies.
The Migration Policy Institute suggests it’s time for a rethink. If governments want digital nomads to stick around and contribute meaningfully, they need to:
Connect remote work policies with broader immigration and labor goals.
Create real pathways to permanent residency or even citizenship.
Focus on attracting people who want to invest in the country, not just passing through and spending a bit.
Yes, nomads spend money locally, but the bigger economic impact is still fuzzy. And with all the paperwork and oversight involved, some governments are starting to wonder if the payoff is really worth it.
The War on Tourism: Are Digital Nomads to Blame?
Digital nomads were once hailed as the antidote to mass tourism - slow travelers who stayed longer, spent locally, and blended into communities. But in many cities, they’re now seen as “stealth tourists”: remote workers who drive up housing costs, crowd local spaces, and contribute little to public infrastructure or taxes.
What’s Fueling the Backlash?
Overtourism: Cities like Barcelona, Lisbon, and Bali are overwhelmed by short-term rentals and transient populations. In Barcelona alone, 26 million tourists visited in 2023, nearly 15 times the city’s population.
Housing Pressure: In Lisbon, 16,000 digital nomads live in the city, and locals are being priced out as landlords favor foreign renters who can pay more. Similar trends are seen in Mexico City, Medellín, and Athens, where rents have surged due to short-term rental conversions.
Cultural Dilution: Traditional customs and languages are fading under the influence of globalized lifestyles. In places like Bali and Lisbon, locals worry that their cities are becoming backdrops for Instagram rather than homes for communities.
The War on Tourists: Cities Push Back
Cities across Europe and Asia are responding with increasingly bold measures:
City | Response Type | Details |
Barcelona | Protests & bans | Water gun protests, chants of “Tourists go home,” ban on 10,000 rentals by 2028 |
Venice | Entry fees & fines | €5–€10 day-tripper fee; fines up to €300 for non-compliance |
Amsterdam | “Stay Away” campaign | Targeted ads discouraging party tourism; cannabis and alcohol restrictions |
Bali | Tourism tax & eco-tourism push | $10 entry fee; crackdown on illegal development |
Athens | Airbnb bans in central districts | New licenses suspended to combat housing crisis |
Tension Points: Nomads in the Crossfire
Even though digital nomads aren’t your typical tourists as they stay longer, work remotely, and often try to live like locals, they’re still getting swept up in the growing backlash against tourism.
One big issue is residency. Most digital nomad visas are temporary and don’t lead to permanent residency or citizenship. So while nomads might spend months or even years in a country, they’re still seen as outsiders with no clear path to settle down.
Then there’s the housing problem. Nomads usually depend on short-term rentals for flexibility, but cities are cracking down on platforms like Airbnb to protect local housing markets. That means fewer options and higher prices, even for people who aren’t just passing through.
And legally, things can get murky. In places without dedicated nomad visas - or where the rules are unclear - many remote workers end up using tourist visas, which technically don’t allow any kind of work. It’s a gray area that can lead to fines, visa denials, or worse if immigration officials decide to enforce the rules to the fullest.
Curaçao is Rolling Out the Welcome Mat
While cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Lisbon are tightening regulations to curb overtourism and housing pressure, Curaçao is taking a different approach by actively courting digital nomads as a way to revive local economies and diversify tourism.
Curaçao: A Caribbean Haven for Remote Workers
Curaçao isn’t just a postcard-perfect Caribbean island; it’s also making a name for itself as a remote work haven. Through its @Home in Curaçao program, the island invites digital nomads, investors, and seasonal residents to stay for up to 12 months. The process is refreshingly simple, and best of all? No local income tax on foreign earnings.
To qualify, you’ll need:
Proof that you earn your income remotely (and not from Curaçao)
Health insurance coverage
A clean criminal record
A local address to call home
Make sure to double-check all information at Nomads Embassy and @Home in Curaçao.
Once you're in, Curaçao offers the kind of lifestyle that remote workers dream about: affordable living, solid Wi-Fi, and a relaxed vibe that’s hard to beat. You can set up your laptop at beachside cafés, or, if you are more formal, rent a virtual office at Soli Deo.
The island’s approach is smart and sustainable; rather than chasing mass tourism, Curaçao is betting on longer-term visitors who bring steady income and integrate into the local rhythm without overwhelming public services. It’s a win-win for nomads and locals alike.
Curaçao vs. Other Digital Nomad Hotspots
Here’s how Curaçao compares to other popular destinations in 2025:
Destination | Avg Monthly Cost | Lifestyle Vibe | Visa Ease | Safety | Internet & Workspaces |
Curaçao | $2,000–$2,500 | Caribbean chill + Dutch flair | Easy | Medium | Good |
Chiang Mai | $1,000–$1,500 | Zen, café culture | Easy | High | Excellent |
Medellín | $1,000–$1,400 | Urban jungle, vibrant | Easy | Medium | Good |
Tbilisi | $600–$900 | Historic, budget-friendly | Very Easy | Medium | Decent |
Lisbon | $2,000–$3,000 | European charm, tech hub | Moderate | High | Excellent |
Bali | $1,050–$1,500 | Tropical, spiritual | Easy | Medium | Good |
Kotor | $1,050–$1,300 | Coastal medieval town | Easy | High | Decent |
Here is a source list by digital nomad destination so you can verify and double-check the information presented in the previous table.
Curaçao
| Lisbon
|
Chiang Mai
| Bali
|
Medellín
| Kotor
|
Tbilisi
|
We also created a comprehensive guide for you: The Smart Entrepreneur’s Guide to Virtual Office Services in Curaçao
Recap: Digital Nomads, Visas, and the Search for Belonging
Digital nomadism used to be a fringe idea; something for backpackers with laptops and a taste for adventure. Now it’s mainstream. In 2023, around 40 million people were living and working this way, and that number’s expected to grow to 60 million by 2030.
But the boom hasn’t been welcomed everywhere. Cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Lisbon are feeling the pressure because of too many visitors, not enough housing, and a growing tension between locals and short-term residents.
Meanwhile, Curaçao is taking a more welcoming approach. Curaçao’s @HOME in Curaçao program offers remote workers a 12-month stay with minimal red tape and no local income tax.
With reliable internet and coworking spaces, the island is quietly positioning itself as a haven for nomads who want more than just a tourist experience.
Whether you need a virtual office to stay grounded or a coworking space that doesn’t feel like a corporate box, Soli Deo offers the kind of setup that lets you work seriously in Curaçao without taking life too seriously.
Talk to one of our experts today to learn more.
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