Skift Take
Swapping its beaches, party, and nightlife image for a digital nomad haven, Goa's got plans beyond just sand and surf — think laptops and lattes.
Think of Goa and what comes to mind? Beaches, nightlife, and parties. Goa’s Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte welcomes this image, but he wants travelers to see beyond it.
The smallest state in India aims to be ahead of the curve (at least for India) in attracting remote workers.
More than 50 countries now offer digital nomad visas, with South Korea, Japan, and Thailand the latest in Asia to cater to this growing segment.
In an exclusive interview with Skift, Khaunte shared Goa's thinking: “Digital nomads represent a high-spending segment that significantly boosts the local economy. We already host over 10,000 digital nomads from within India, and we aim to increase this number by creating the ideal environment for remote work,” Khaunte said.
He said digital nomads spend about 35% of their income in the destination making them a valuable addition to the state’s economy. “We must not miss the bus on this," he said.
According to a KPMG report, approximately 35% of the state’s population is involved in direct jobs in the tourism sector.
Attracting Digital Nomads