Research shows there are already 35 million digital nomads in the world today, thanks to the rise of remote and flexible working since the Covid-19 pandemic. Experts say digital nomad travel – defined by travelers doing digital work while living in a destination for at least a month – will eventually become more important than conventional tourism, with a predicted 1 billion digital nomads in the world. world by 2030.
Morocco is well placed to take advantage of the nomadic opportunity due to its enticing mix of culture, climate and infrastructure, which has already made it one of the most successful tourist destinations in the world. Morocco is home to 10 international airports and has more than 1,000 international flights per week. Morocco’s internet speed is among the fastest in Africa, averaging 7.36 MB/s, allowing digital nomads to stay in touch with clients and colleagues while working remotely.
Essaouira is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant arts scene and laid-back atmosphere. It’s a great destination for digital nomads who want to live near the beach and enjoy a slower pace of life. The city has many cafes, restaurants and coworking spaces, providing a great work-life balance and community.
The Connect Summit features a line-up of prestigious international speakers including:
• Lauren Razavi, British-Iranian director of Silicon Valley innovation lab Plumia, and a world-renowned expert on digital nomads who has spoken at the United Nations and the European Commission
• Hans Meyer, the Dutch founder of the award-winning global hotel brand Zoku – “one of the 25 coolest hotels in the world” according to Forbes – which focuses on digital nomads and remote workers
• Gonçalo Hall, the Portuguese founder of the revolutionary digital nomad village of Madeira, a project praised by international media titles such as Wired, Sifted, The Washington Post and Lonely Planet
• government officials and policymakers from the European Union, Southeast Asia and Latin America
The Connect Summit is organized by Consensus Public Relations (CPR) in collaboration with the city of Essaouira, the FRDISI Foundation for Research in Science and Engineering and SafetyWing, the world’s largest nomad service company, which was born from the popular Y Combinator startup accelerator program and has so far raised $50 million in venture capital to advance the nomad movement worldwide.
Tarik Ottmani, mayor of Essaouira, argued that“As the world shifts towards digitalization and remote working, it is a great honor for Essaouira to welcome an esteemed group of international thought leaders from the digital nomad industry, to help us explore opportunities what this growing market represents. Essaouira is already a famous lifestyle destination, fondly loved by all who visit it, and I believe we are well placed to lead as a digital nomad hub, full of global talent and innovative ideas, in this new era of work and life. »
For his part, Hicham Medromi, vice-president of the FRDISI Foundation, believes that “Innovation requires four important ingredients: human capital, the ecosystem, education and research. These are the ingredients that we develop in Essaouira. We identified the talents of Essaouira’s human capital and provided the local community with the educational and technical tools necessary to create an innovative ecosystem. As part of this proactive approach, the foundation launched SUPTECH Essaouira, an engineering school offering educational programs for engineers and technicians in the fields of biomedical engineering and health technologies. We believe that the presence of digital nomads in Essaouira will add great value to our ecosystem through the exchange and transfer of knowledge and experience. »
Stefan Heggelund, communications manager at SafetyWing, assures that “We know that digital nomads tend to stay in a destination for 1-6 months, spending an average of $2,100 per month on accommodation, food, coworking and leisure activities. The digital nomad market offers huge opportunities for governments, businesses and investors from all countries to engage. SafetyWing is excited to see Morocco and Essaouira leading the way in Africa and the Middle East in serving digital nomads, and is happy to support and contribute to this important work. »
