February 23, 2022 - His one-year digital nomad permit is about to expire, but the phenomenal Steve Tsentserensky promotion of Croatia continues.
"Can you believe it? Someone is actually moving to Croatia after that article about me on CNBC."
And that someone is not alone.
One of the early reactions to Croatia introducing a digital nomad visa last year was what benefits it would actually bring Croatia. One of the biggest side benefits, I replied, is a new army of enthusiastic promoters of their adopted country.
That was before I met Ohian Steve Tsentserenky, who Jan de Jong suggested I interview him as one of the early digital nomad permit recipients. Rather than interview Steve, he wrote his own story - Journey to Get the Croatian Digital Nomad Permit.
I first came across Steve's video work when I saw this amazing video of Zagreb, the city he has come to love like no other.
And after almost a year of great promotion, it was nice that Zagreb said thank you in a meaningful way by making Steve the Zagreb Digital Nomad Special Guest Ambassador.
For Steve's promotion has been multi-faceted and global.
The star of a series of articles about living abroad on CNBC, all three of Steve's articles have been trending on the American news portal, and the videos have received sizable views and even more impressive engagement.
More than 320,000 views so far, and over 1,000 comments on the first video. I have been with Steve on the streets of Zagreb when strangers approach and ask if he is the $47 guy. Locals and nomads. You can see his CNBC articles here.
With a great eye for a good shot and a trusty drone to boot, I asked Steve back in November if he would be interested in discovering eastern Croatia on a 6-day trip.
He was. And this is how he saw it. How many places in this video can you name? You can read about the tip in Time to Tell the Truth about Slavonia Full of Life.
The footage he took was extraordinary, and it is safely in the CROMADS archives and will be put to very good use.
Steve also offered to make the official CROMADS video, which is always a pleasure to watch.
Away from the camera, however, Steve has also been busy. One of the other great benefits that nomads will bring to the next generation in Croatia is mindset. As Croatia's youth talks of emigration, here is an American talking to 7th graders in schools about why Croatia and not America. It is a drip drip feed, but the more it happens, the more young minds will be positively influenced.
And of course, there is no digital nomad conference in the region without Steve as a panelist or speaker. I think he has spoken at about 10 conferences in the last year, including internationally (in person in Montenegro, and remotely in Bali), with more international appearances scheduled.
As he prepares to reluctantly leave as Croatia's bureaucracy demands it, a huge thanks to Steve for all he has done for Croatia - and will continue to do. And one hopes the bureaucracy will become easier for promoting champions such as him - I know of foreigners who have done a lot less who have received Croatian citizenship.
For more news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.
