September the 23rd, 2022 - The widely read Bloomberg has listed the Republic of Croatia among the top destinations for digital nomads, a form of living and working that is rapidly gaining in popularity.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Bloomberg has included Croatia among the countries across the world that are leading in programmes for attracting digital nomads, and they also published a photo of gorgeous Dubrovnik, which is a confirmation of the city's recognition in this growing market.

Bloomberg published this overview of the world's leading countries when it comes to programmes designed specifically for digital nomads on its Bloomberg Business portal and on social media, listing fourteen countries in it, six of which are in Europe.

In addition to the Republic of Croatia, Germany, Italy, Malta, Greece and Portugal are also other European countries the publication has highlighted, according to a statement from the City of Dubrovnik.

For each country, Bloomberg provided some basic but useful information on how to apply for temporary residence if you're a digital nomad, as well as that another twelve countries and their announced programmes which are aimed at attracting people who work remotely and want to stay in one particular place for a longer period of time.

The City of Dubrovnik also noted that due to the need for greater diversification of Croatia's southernmost city's overall tourist offer and the development of innovative content in cooperation with the Tourist Board of the City of Dubrovnik and in partnership with Total Croatia News and Saltwater Nomads, at the time of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, they launched an initiative for the further development of Dubrovnik as a destination for digital nomads.

This initiative has been going on for two years now and is constantly being upgraded, with the holding of various conferences, workshops, competitions and meetings where digital nomads are presented with the advantages of living and working in the extreme south of Croatia.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

August the 2nd, 2022 - NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index (GRWI) has produced a global ranking of the best countries for remote work. The American cyber security company has ranked Croatia 22nd out of a total of 66 countries, thanks to its high level of security, openness, quality of life, knowledge of the English language and tourism development.

As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, on top of all of the above, the Republic of Croatia has numerous advantages compared to first-ranked Germany or indeed the Netherlands, which have a higher cost of living, and in terms of cyber security, Croatia is better than most comparable countries with a warm climate.

The weakest link for Croatia as a desirable country for digital nomads is the infrastructure, from internet speed to the (lack of) digitisation of public services, and it could be better in managing the pandemic.

NordLayer's Global Remote Work Index (GRWI) is otherwise tool for digital professionals used to assess and compare the attractiveness of 66 countries as remote work locations, based on four sets of criteria.

Cyber ​​security, economic and social conditions, digital and physical infrastructure and the response to the global coronavirus pandemic are looked into (covering 10 percent of the total criteria), and only highly reliable and up-to-date data and analyses are used in determining GRWI.

Remote work, which a few years ago seemed to do nothing but raise eyebrows, is now becoming a serious trend in the way people travel and live, partly due to the global pandemic. The results of a Gartner analysis show that hybrid and remote work increased after the outbreak of that unprecedented public health crisis.

Back in pre-pandemic 2019, remote employees accounted for 17 percent of the total number of employees across the world, last year this share stood at 32 percent remote and 51 percent hybrid work, and the findings show that by the end of 2022, more than half of the employees across Europe, as many as 52 percent of them, now work remotely.

Judging by the GRWI index, Europe is the best place for engaging in remote work, with as many as 8 of the 10 leading countries on this ranking, led by Germany, followed by Denmark, the USA, Spain, Lithuania, the Netherlands, then Sweden, Estonia, Singapore and France.

European countries rank highest in cybersecurity thanks in part to GDPR, relative political stability, reasonable local prices, reduced travel restrictions and less need for work visas.

Most of the countries with high English proficiency are also some of the most expensive, such as the US, the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. The cost of living factor greatly reduces the viability of telecommuting in these countries. NordLayer declared Lithuania a hidden gem for remote work, which was in the top 5 on their list and in 4th place in all of Europe.

Lithuania continues to attract the attention of business investors, making it a fast-growing centre for workers in various fields. This country with probably the fastest internet on the planet ranks second in terms of cyber security, and in terms of internet accessibility, it ranks third in the GRWI ranking.

The best place in the Mediterranean has been occupied by Spain. As an extremely strong tourist destination, it is in 10th place in terms of safety, and the country's attractiveness was not damaged by the shortcomings in terms of internet availability, a very average knowledge of English and the cost of living.

Croatia is even better than Spain in terms of cyber security, which is why it is in a high 6th place out of a total of 66 countries in the entire world. This aspect also includes the legal capacity to protect remote workers, their data, privacy and online work.

Croatia also holds a high position in the aspect of social and economic attractiveness, in which the country is in 11th place on the GRWI scale. This means that the country has political stability, affordable local prices and is very accessible. The population of such destinations is open and communicates easily in English. Croatia is also helped by its tourist attractiveness.

Co-working spaces with high-speed internet are essential for remote workers and digital nomads, and good general infrastructure is essential for leading a comfortable life, NordLayer claims. That's where Croatia continues to be the weakest, stuck in an unenviable 43rd place.

The fact that the Republic of Croatia still has a lot of work to do in this segment is shown by the very recently published Economic and Social Digitisation Index for 2022, according to which Croatia is in 21st place among the 27 EU member states.

As pointed out in the report issued by the European Commission (EC), despite the good results in digital skills, there is still a shortage of experts in information and communication technologies across Croatia, which significantly affects the integration of digital technologies in companies. In addition to that, although Croatia has some very good results in terms of open data, this is unfortunately reduced by poor results in the field of digital public services.

For more on working remotely in Croatia, make sure to check out our digital nomads section.

June 22, 2022 - In the blink of an eye, the exciting Zadar Digital Nomad Week program came to a close with more keynotes and a call to nature. A look at the last two days of a great week that has helped highlight Zadar's magic in attracting digital nomads.

If you ask me, I would have thought that there was still one more week left of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week. Although six days loaded with various activities, workshops, panels, and keynotes have passed, I felt that there was more. And surely there is. I hope this doesn't sound like dissatisfaction, but I have come to the conclusion that a week in Zadar is still not enough. Looking at Zadar as a region, it becomes clear that there is still a lot to discover and do.

The participants were able to see a destination that, although it definitely stands out for its infrastructure, coworking spaces, and life on its streets, also stands above the rest when it comes to reconnecting with nature and authentic experiences. Living and working in Zadar means being in pure contact with rich history, being able to choose hundreds of destinations to visit, nature to discover, being part of its potential as a tech city, and much more.

The Zadar Digital Nomad Week program reserved three very interesting keynotes for the last day, which were held online. The first of them was led by Sara Dyson, better known as ''Expat in Croatia'', who moved to Croatia 10 years ago. Sara founded ''Expat in Croatia'', now one of the top English-language resources for everything related to Croatian bureaucracy and assimilation including residence, citizenship, business, healthcare, and culture. In her live session, Sara explained how a blog managed to become a business that today has managed to facilitate the path of many people to achieve their dream life in Croatia.

The second keynote was held by Orest Zub, a digital nomad from Ukraine. Orest was recently at the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik, where he participated in keynotes and panels, recounting his experience as a digital nomad in times when his country is at war. Orest tells about the internal debate of being a person with a desire to explore the world (he has visited 129 countries to date) and the feeling that he should return home. Orest, precisely, returned home to take care of his family and use his influence and platforms to recount the events of the current war in Ukraine. Almost four months after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Orest is traveling again but this time not only to connect with other digital nomads but to use his voice and raise awareness about what is happening in his country. Definitely, a keynote that helps to understand the social roles and responsibilities that a digital nomad can also assume beyond remote work.

The last keynote was held by Diane Erceg, an Aussie with Croatian roots. In her live virtual session, Diane takes us all out of the box and makes us wonder, what about Antarctica as a destination for digital nomads? Diane's doctorate has covered 50 years of tourism on the ''seventh continent'', and whose many experiences at the globe's south pole are soon to be made into a book. Digital nomads tend to pursue destinations that, in addition to satisfying their most personal desires, such as destinations with tropical climates, paradisiacal beaches, or jaw-dropping landscapes, also have to meet the requirements that allow them to work remotely, such as good WiFi or coworking spaces. Precisely, in a Zadar Digital Nomad Week that has brought us closer to nature and the authenticity of a destination, Diane tells us about the ways in which it is possible to reach Antarctica as a digital nomad and live a truly unique experience compared to others destinations in the world.

There was no better way to close not only the day but also the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, than by packing all our things and heading to Paklenica National Park, 50 minutes from Zadar city by car. Reconnecting with nature took on a new meaning, as we hiked for almost two hours in the direction of Planinarski Dom Paklenica, a cabin that welcomes adventurers and hikers. The cabin is located in the middle of the national park, and the only thing that surrounds you are its forests and impressive peaks. It sounds curious that the closing activity in a digital nomad event means being away from WiFi, technology, and coworking spaces, but at no time was it a reason for complaints. All the participants began the walk with the mindset of reconnecting with nature, with themselves, and even as an opportunity to share and create authentic bonds. Fireflies lighting up the night, and the morning donkeys bringing supplies to the cabin, are details that helped create that real atmosphere of presence.

We all spent the night in the cabin and woke up very early to start our way back. There could not be a better setting for Diane Erceg to carry out her long-awaited keynote while we descended towards the entrance of Paklenica. The end of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week meant everyone's return to their daily lives and work. But I am very sure that we all now have a unique memory of a valuable experience, and we can boast of authentically knowing a destination that perhaps we would never have imagined being like this before. Congratulations to Tanja Polegubić from Saltwater Nomads for putting together an outstanding program, as well as the support of the Digital Nomad Association, the City of Zadar, the Zadar Tourist Board, the University of Zadar, and all the sponsors who made this event possible.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

June 21, 2022 - In the final days of the first-ever Zadar Digital Nomad Week, the workshops and keynotes have not stopped, and the sixth day of the program is highlighted by familiar faces, insightful workshops, and an entertaining game that will put our teamwork to the test.

I think that nobody can deny that, after several very intense days of activities, the program needed a kind of relaxation. And no, that did not mean that the very interesting workshops and keynotes would stop. On the contrary, the sixth day brought with it memorable sessions with many lessons. The program of that day was carried out almost entirely in the old town of Zadar. The sixth day of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week carried the slogan of Nomads + Worklife, and to do it justice, it was necessary that the day's workshops and keynotes be led by authoritative voices already known in the country.

It's 9:00 am in Zadar, and one of Croatia's favorite digital nomads, Steve Tsentserensky, is speaking online about ''The Dark Art of Upwork''. Most of you might already know him, but for those who don't, Steve is a writer, video producer, and photographer who's created content for big and small brands with his company SBT Productions, and as a freelance writer. He's produced content for contestants on The Voice, adventure tourism companies, exchange-listed firms, and written for prominent outlets like CNBC and more while traveling. Despite it being almost 3 in the morning at his current location, Steve makes no secret of his enthusiasm to dig deeper into how to generate income anywhere in the world as a freelancer through the Upwork platform, and how to land your ideal jobs and clients.

Steve Tsentserensky

We headed to the next venue of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, The Botanist, located on the west coast of Zadar's old town. It was Charlie Brown's turn to offer a great workshop on how to generate income as a writer through the Medium and Substack platforms. And I say great not only for a very valuable opportunity to listen to someone who continues to grow as a writer and on these platforms day after day but also because we were able to have an extensive Q&A session in which almost all attendees participated. A few days ago, the participants were sure they wanted to start their podcast as soon as possible, but now they were starting to lean more towards writing. That's how cool it was! Charlie gave a ton of advice on not only using Medium and Substack but also how to land the topics you can write about and progress faster.

Another great online session would follow, with another familiar face: Anna Maria Kochanska, the Chief Nomad at the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, shared her insights on the link between digital nomads and locals. Anna Maria is surely one of the digital nomads who has traveled the most places in the world, and she has been in contact with different cultures. How can a nomad authentically engage with its surroundings? In Anna Maria's own experience, it was better to distance herself from the rich people in hotels and yachts and get closer to people, both locals and other nomads, who could show her the destination she was at in its purest form.

Anna Maria Kochanska

After the online session, we headed to the Duke's palace, inside Zadar's old town, a renovated 16th-century palace, now hosting temporary exhibitions, music performances & events. It was the turn of perhaps one of the most particular, different, and entertaining activities in the Zadar Digital Nomad Week program. In the library, Tijs Berens from Skillup was waiting for us to participate in a virtual Escape Room. For those who are not familiar with the game, an Escape Room puts you in a place and situation where the main goal is clear: to escape. However, to do so requires skill, logic, and in this particular one, a lot of teamwork. The participants found themselves adrift in a spaceship, and in order to land safely, they needed to decipher the clues and resume communication with ground control. To achieve this, they had just 50 minutes. Despite the difficulties and even after thinking they couldn't figure it out, the team reestablished contact with ground control with 10 minutes to go. Success!

We continued with the virtual sessions and it was Kashlee Kucheran's turn to step forward! Kashlee, originally from Canada - is a dynamic speaker, and Travel Lifestyle Trendsetter. She lights up a destination if she drops its name. From Mexico, to Bali to Croatia (and most recently, Albania) Kashlee is with us today to discuss: The Rise of the Female Digital Nomad. According to Kashlee, what used to be a major man-dominated space is now changing. Partially because of more women entering tech and partially because the pandemic allowed many female-dominant jobs to go remote.

Kashlee Kucheran

To wrap up a great day in Zadar's old town, we now head to The Garden Lounge, where we are pleasantly surprised that some new digital nomads have dropped by to share a few drinks. For those who do not know, the Digital Nomad Association Croatia organizes monthly We{dn}esday events in different cities in Croatia, with the aim of creating an environment of sharing and networking between digital nomads who are currently in that location. Definitely an initiative that fitted perfectly at this point in the program.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

June 18, 2022 - On the third day of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, the participants were able to enjoy a program that brought them closer to the rich history and spectacular landscapes in the Zadar region, beyond the city.

After a successful couple of days introducing Zadar Digital Nomad Week, where the participants were able to familiarize themselves with the Dalmatian city and get to know each other better, the program continued with activities that would take them briefly out of the city to enjoy some gems that few know in the region. The slogan of the third day of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week was ''Recharge in Nature'', and it is unique that few regions in Croatia can boast of having so many varied National Parks located less than an hour from the city: Kornati and Telašćica in the sea, and Paklenica, North Velebit, and Velebit in the mountain range. Ideal to disconnect from work and reconnect with the natural surroundings.

But before exploring the natural landscapes of the Zadar region, it was necessary to start the third day of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week with something to eat and, as a great bonus, some important history of the area. Fifty minutes from the city by car, and located in the Pakoštane area, is the historic Ottoman residence of Maškovića Han. The construction of Mašković Han began in 1644 by the order and funds of Jusuf Mašković, originally from Vrana, a high dignitary on the Sultan's court and a supreme admiral of the Turkish fleet. Han was intended to be a summer house/residence for Mašković when he returned from Constantinople to his homeland. It was conceived as a luxuriant monumental and modern building that would have all the necessary comforts, including a Turkish bath-Hamam.

Significant funds were invested in the construction, and there were even 500 workers working on it every day. In 1645, Mašković, with 60,000 warriors, conquered Crete, and the nobility that he showed towards the captured Venetian soldiers and citizens made him one of the most prominent warriors of all time, but he provoked the anger of the sultan who summoned him to the court where Mašković was then executed. His tragic destiny left a trace also on Han, which was not completed in the planned form, but rather in a much more modest form.

Within the Ottoman walls of Maškovića Han, ZDNW participants enjoyed a spectacular Turkish coffee and baklava to calm their appetite, followed by a hearty lunch to fuel up for the day's next activities.

Following an excellent brunch and lunch at Maškovića Han, we headed to the shores of Lake Vrana, the largest lake in all of Croatia. One would think that, due to its impressive size, it would be found on a beach on the Adriatic coast, but in reality, it is a magical freshwater destination that is worth exploring in the summer as an alternative to beaches and coves. Under the shade of the trees provided by Camp Vransko Lake Crkvine, we were able not only to rest and properly digest lunch, but also to catch up on work. Isn't that the essence of being a remote worker in the middle of nature?

After recharging our batteries, a very unique activity followed. We got on kayaks and paddled to enter the waters of Lake Vrana, where Michael Freer offered a keynote on the social impact of being a digital nomad in each destination they go to. Floating in the refreshing waters of the largest lake in Croatia, we were able to learn more about the different ways one can get involved socially in Croatia, such as volunteering and social development projects. Who better to offer the keynote than Michael, who in his many years in Croatia has managed to lead various social projects.

After the keynote, we met again in Maškovića Han, where a van was waiting for us to go to the next and last destination of the day. At Maškovića Han, we had a special reunion with some dear familiar faces from last year in Dubrovnik: Marlee and Jeff McCormick, who participated in the memorable Digital Nomads in Residence program at the Pearl of the Adriatic. They flew from their home, in Texas, to spend a few days enjoying the excellent June weather in the Adriatic and to be part of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week.

We drove in the early evening hours to Vidikovac Kamenjak, just 20 minutes from Maškovića Han: a viewpoint located on the top of the peaks behind the Vrana lake with perhaps the best view I have ever had in my life. I must admit how hard it is for me to explain in detail what one can feel with the landscapes from that viewpoint and, above all, with the sunset falling.

With just a turn of the head, one is able to appreciate the island of Murter north of Šibenik, the archipelagos of Kornati and Telašćica, or the islands of Žut and Pašman, belonging to Zadar. And, of course, the lake of Vrana in all its immensity, in whose waters rested the last rays of daylight and, shortly after, a full moon that completely illuminated the lake. And the photos and sightseeing were not the only things, since Tanja Polegubić from Saltwater saw in this last activity of the day a great opportunity to share a picnic with fantastic proseccos, and delicious appetizers.

And that's how when night fell, we returned home to close a magical day in the nature of the Zadar region and ready to start the week with great energy and eager to see what the program had in store for us.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section. 

June 12, 2022 - After the success of the Zagreb Digital Nomad Week in 2021 and the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik this year, now it's turn of one of the most important cities in the Adriatic and one that continues to attract a large community of digital nomads. A review of the first day of Zadar Digital Nomad Week.

In one of the most ambitious projects of Saltwater Nomads to date, and in collaboration with the Zadar Tourist Board and the Digital Nomad Association Croatia, Zadar Digital Nomad Week presents a week-long program full of cultural and outdoor activities that will allow you to discover in-depth the advantages of being a digital nomad in Zadar. The event kicked off on Friday the 10th with an opening dinner at the Groppo restaurant, where participants and organizers were able to get to know each other better and share more about their stories, experiences, and backgrounds.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

The day started in front of the Foša Gate, in the old town of Zadar, where Rudi Witkowsky offered an active masterclass. Rudi, a fitness coach and consultant from Cape Town, South Africa, was Zagreb's digital nomad ambassador last year in August. Rudi has already been able to get to know numerous coastal destinations in Croatia since it is definitely the climate that he pursues as a digital nomad, but he highlighted Zadar as a fitness-friendly city, with enough provision and infrastructure for athletes and physical activity enthusiasts. In his active masterclass, Rudi guided those present to reconnect with their bodies through demanding exercise routines in tune with relaxation exercises, all this under the shade of the trees, taking into account the high temperatures that herald the arrival of summer.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

Around noon, we got together for a very interesting activity that tested our knowledge about Zadar: the puzzle picnic. Through very creative clues, the participants were able to walk the ancient streets of the old town of Zadar while we deciphered the way to finally arrive at a location with surely one of the best panoramic views of the city. Under the shade of the trees, a well-deserved tasting session of Croatian prosecco, cheeses, fruits, and sponsored kombuchas appeased everyone's appetite and thirst after a long day of walking under the merciless sun — a proper reward.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

There was no better way to end the first day than visiting the surroundings of the historic town of Nin, just 30 minutes from Zadar by car. It's almost seven in the evening, and it's the best time of day to take a bath, but one very different from what we're used to. At Queens Beach, visitors come to cover their bodies with mud well known for its therapeutic and healing functions. Mud baths are very popular in Croatia, especially in this part of the country. It is even known that this activity dates back to Roman times.

On the way back to Zadar, and without planning it, we stopped to take a look at the church of Saint Nicholas, a small church built on a small hill, and that keeps a short but very interesting history. According to tradition, seven Kings were crowned in Nin, and every crowned ruler rode on horseback to the Church of Saint Nicholas, and it was in fact here that he would be presented to the people through a symbolic ritual, where he would point with a sword the four corners of the world.

Photo: Jose Alfonso Cussianovich/Total Croatia News

It was an excellent opening of the Zadar Digital Nomad Week, which presented the city in a great way, and it is best to know that there is still much to enjoy from its rich program. The second day awaits Turkish coffee and baklava, keynote in a kayak, and much more.

Visit the official Zadar Digital Nomad Week website.

For the latest news and features about digital nomads in Croatia, check out the dedicated TCN section.

April 21, 2022 - With less than two weeks to go until the Work.Place.Culture conference kicks off in Dubrovnik, TCN continues to present the elite lineup of speakers who, through their experiences and wisdom, will put the Pearl of the Adriatic on the digital nomad world map. Up next, a house favorite: Dean Kuchel on the power of yes and connecting your way around the world.

In the midst of a pandemic that to this day still has no end, cities like Dubrovnik stepped forward to change the way they positioned themselves in the tourism industry. There had to be something beyond the flights, the cruise ships, and the hundreds of thousands of tourists walking its ancient streets, and that is when Dubrovnik, in an exemplary union between the city administration and its tourism board, turned its attention to a group that in recent years has been revolutionizing the concept of remote work in Croatia: digital nomads.

Back in July 2020, the city and tourist board of Dubrovnik agreed to a proposal from Saltwater Nomads and Total Croatia News to put it on the map for digital nomads. Following Croatia’s first Digital Nomads conference in October 2020, the city was presented with a program for 2021 that would help attract digital nomads to visit, and stay, in the city. Tanja Polegubic, the founder of Saltwater, proposed a unique event - a digital nomad in residence program. A competition to select 10 nomads from around the world, who would then live in Dubrovnik for a month and collaborate on a plan to make the city more attractive to the digital nomad community. The program was promoted through Total Croatia News and drew global interest. The event came to life in April 2021 with the digital nomads in residence arriving in the city. Over four weeks, the Saltwater program team facilitated a series of workshops involving the visiting nomads, the city, the tourist board, and the local community.

This year, and to continue to show that Dubrovnik is on the way to being a hotspot for digital nomads, Saltwater Nomads, the City of Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, the Digital Nomads Association Croatia (DNA Croatia), the Croatian National Tourist Board and Total Croatia News will hold the first Work.Place.Culture. conference from May 5 to 7 in Dubrovnik. Work.Place.Culture is the conference which brings work from anywhere to absolutely everywhere. Join remote professionals and destinations from around the world as they inspire a global workforce that has greater location flexibility than ever before, and the destinations which are reinventing to support them through policy, infrastructure, and community.

Most definitely, the soul of the conference (together with the magical city of Dubrovnik) will be its spectacular lineup of top speakers from the ever-evolving world of remote work. In recent weeks, TCN has shared a bit more about them, and this time it's Dean Kuchel's turn, a man who needs no introduction if you're talking about Croatia and digital nomads in the same sentence. Think of a country, and surely Dean has visited it. But the most important thing, beyond his surprising record of known countries, is his will and energy to promote the culture of remote work and the development of communities among digital nomads in each of those countries. Dean's first contact with Croatia as a destination for digital nomads was at the Zagreb Digital Nomad Week last year in June, where he drew everyone's attention with his life motto: ''Say yes, go explore!''. Later, he became Zagreb's digital nomad ambassador in September, and in the following months, he found time in his busy travel schedule to reconnect with Croatia, visiting Zagreb and Dubrovnik. Today, Dean shares with us his expectations ahead of the Work.Place.Culture conference.

Dean Kuchel and the Croatian digital nomad story seem to be intertwined. Great to see you coming back to conferences in both Dubrovnik and Zagreb in May and June. How long will you stay this time?

Between May and June, I plan to stay around a month in Croatia, I’m on a little bit of a tight schedule this summer trying to visit many friends and my family in order to celebrate my 40th birthday in June.

As a global traveler with a keen interest in Croatia, explain how the scene in Croatia has progressed since you spoke at Zagreb Digital Nomad Week less than a year ago.

I’ve always been super excited about everything that happened in the past 12 months, whether is the activities by the government, the tourism boards, and the private sector with examples such as Saltwater Nomads, Total Croatia News, Digital Nomad Valley, and the Digital Nomad Association… so many things happening in the country. And in the past year, it just leaped forward to really position Croatia as one of the leading destinations for nomads and I think it works.

We see Nomad Base planning to have its next event in Croatia, bringing 300 or 400 digital nomads. More and more friends and people in my network are starting to talk about Croatia as one of their destinations this year and next year, so definitely I can see the results. Croatia seems to be very structured now, so if a digital nomad chooses to go to Croatia, there are enough resources for them to find all the information, all the activities, and everything that happens there, and that’s beautiful. And you can also throw Cromads into the mix here!

You are a man who could build a community on the moon. How do you see the nomad community developing in Croatia?

The community in Croatia definitely evolved, I see a big step forward in the last year. I recently traveled to Zadar’s Digital Nomad Valley where I met a lot of groups of connected people, and this connection and community is what makes people stay much longer in Croatia, and it’s what makes many other people around the world consider Croatia as a destination.

With this being said, I think there’s still a lot of work to do in order to connect different communities within Croatia into one, single, unified community. From my side, my take on communities is that we need a single community that connects everyone rather than spread them and break them into smaller groups. I think this is where Croatia can improve a little bit and I wanna see more collaboration when it comes to communities, and between the different cities and regions in the country.

A few words about Dubrovnik, which is perhaps not the most obvious nomad destination, but it has worked hard to change that perception. Your thoughts?

It’s an interesting question because, if you asked me three months ago about Dubrovnik I would tell you, ‘‘yes, it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and it’s the perfect backdrop to host such an event’’, but for me, it was more of a place to come, visit, see the Old City, and move on. But then, three months ago, I spent a little over a week in Dubrovnik and I was able to discover a city that is really an amazing destination for nomads. It obviously offers all the beauties of an old city, the access to the ocean, the great weather almost all year long, and then I found that there are bars and cafes, and plenty of restaurants. I met with other nomads that spent time there and expats that have been staying in Dubrovnik for a long time.

I think it is up and coming, and definitely hosting and holding this event in Dubrovnik would help to spread the word out that it’s not just a place for the touristic comfort, but also for nomads to come and spend the whole season.

You will be speaking at the Work. Place. Culture. conference in Dubrovnik in May. What is your topic, and what are you looking to get out of the conference?

I’m very excited about the Work. Place. Culture Conference in Dubrovnik! I’m happy to be back in Dubrovnik for the second time within five months, and I’m also excited since I’m taking a more active role this year, as a contribution to supporting Croatia’s effort to become a top digital nomad destination.

In regards to my talk and the topic, if you want to know what I’ll talk about, you should attend and you can do so onsite or online. Join us at the event, and I can just give away that the words ‘‘digital nomad lifestyle’’, ‘‘world travel’’, and ‘‘community-building’’ will be touring in the air.

I’m definitely looking forward to expanding my network, connecting with locals, connecting with digital nomads, and I really hope to inspire the local community and local businesses to see the benefit and the good that the digital nomads, both the people and the lifestyle, can bring to the country and help flourish in all different areas: business, tourism, or economy-wise. It’s something that is important for me and I hope to bring it with me to this conference.

Next steps for Croatia?

In one word: synergy. There’s a lot of beautiful effort being put by cities and regions, tourism boards, the different private ventures, and I would like to see a single ecosystem that connects all these efforts and companies altogether, that focuses on these efforts and reaches the goal of making Croatia a top destination for digital nomads. I think Croatia can really benefit from more collaboration between the different ventures, and this is where I think Croatia should head next.

And, as always with your crazy lifestyle, what is next for Dean Kuchel?

Right after the conference, I will head to the Nomad Base - Croatia meetup, and from there I’ll head to Tel Aviv, Israel, to spend some time with my family and friends to celebrate my 40th birthday. I’ll then attend and speak at the Bansko Nomad Fest in Bulgaria, and at some point, during the summer I’ll head back to Bali, Indonesia, where I have grown a few roots and building a house. A big, big change for the frequent traveler that I am.

You can learn more about and connect with Dean through his official website, Facebook, and Instagram.

You can buy your tickets for the conference in Dubrovnik through this link, and you can download the full programme of the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik here.

Work. Place. Culture. is a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads, and TCN, with support from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia and Dubrovacka Bastina. Zagreb Digital Nomad Week is a partnership between Zagreb Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads, and TCN. 

To learn more about magnificent Dubrovnik, check out the Total Croatia Dubrovnik in a Page guide, in partnership with Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.  

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

April 13, 2022 - We are getting closer to the Work. Place. Culture. remote work conference in Dubrovnik, and TCN continues its look at the list of high-class international speakers who will be sharing their wisdom in the Pearl of the Adriatic. On this occasion, we talk with Rowena Hennigan, a remote work mentor and global thought leader who will introduce us to the importance of community and human connection in the constantly evolving world of remote work.

A busy season for Croatia's digital nomad story is about to begin. Last year's highlights included the introduction of the digital nomad permit on January 1, 2021, and destinations such as Zagreb and Dubrovnik attracted global interest with award-winning events such as Zagreb Digital Nomad Week and Dubrovnik Nomads-in-Residence project.

Both Zagreb and Dubrovnik will continue their push to position themselves in the market in 2022, with Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2022 set to take place in June, and a news conference before that in Dubrovnik, as previously reported on TCN: Work. Place. Culture.

Work.Place.Culture is the conference which brings work from anywhere to absolutely everywhere. Join remote professionals and destinations from around the world as they inspire a global workforce that has greater location flexibility than ever before, and the destinations which are reinventing to support them through policy, infrastructure, and community.

Additionally, as part of the Work.Place.Culture Conference, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board is launching its official workation program pilot, in conjunction with Saltwater and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik. The winning team will enjoy a 1-week stay (between 1 and 9 May 2022) at the 5 Star Sun Gardens Dubrovnik and have the chance to partake in a specialty workshop – strategy planning, team building, wellbeing, and leadership are among the options available. The all-star team will also present at the Work. Place. Culture. Conference on 5-7 May 2022. Applications are open until this Friday, April 15! Click HERE to apply.

Total Croatia News continues to present the elite lineup for the Work. Place. Culture., this time with Rowena Hennigan. A family-related epiphany introduced her to the wonderful world of remote work, and today Rowena is recognized as a global thought leader. ''Remote work has enabled me to live flexibly, work from anywhere, travel extensively and find work-life balance. I relish in being an advocate and a leader on the education and skills needed for effective remote work practices.'', says Rowena. Today, Rowena has been able to use her experience working and traveling to identify the key factors that help form the right discipline to live as a digital nomad, and as a published academic author and researcher, she knows exactly how to transfer this knowledge to all those seeking to educate themselves on remote working skills.

You are recognised as a global thought leader in the field of remote work. Tell us firstly about your personal journey and how you achieved your current lifestyle. 

Back in 2015, when myself and my young family were living in Dublin, my daughter developed chronic childhood asthma and life was tough. Luckily, as I returned to work after maternity leave both my employers at the time allowed me to work flexibly and remotely. That was when my partner and I had the epiphany: if we could work remotely in Ireland, why not somewhere with a better climate to support our daughters' health? We took the decision to move to Zaragoza in Spain and keep our lifestyle as mobile and flexible as possible. We are now a location-independent family, with a base in Zaragoza, but nomading for short periods in other locations, such as France, Italy, Vietnam, Indonesia, parts of Spain, Gran Canaria and Portugal. We combine travel with work and we are mainly “slowmads”, meaning we work and travel at a slow pace in a certain region.

You are an advocate and leader on the education and skills required for effective remote work practices. What would you say are the 3 key skills required to develop this new reality?

First, self-management and self-leadership; from conscientiousness to self-discipline, remote workers act independently and need the self-regulation skills to make that a success. Second, communication & interpersonal skills; the art of effective communication is vital for remote working, alongside the ability to make and maintain strong relationships in a virtual environment. And third, teamwork & virtual collaboration skills; knowing how to work and collaborate efficiently in a virtual team. 

You are also an academic. How much has the future of work entered academia, and what role does academia have to play in its development?

As an industry academic, I have enjoyed seeing the two worlds of industry and academia getting more closely aligned in recent times. As various evidence-based research and insights are widely distributed amongst the corporate community and learnings are shared. However, more cooperation and collaboration is needed between these two worlds.

Your prognosis on where all this is going. How do you see the global work landscape in 5 years?

Looking into my crystal ball, I see 3 key factors:

1. Individual worker well being, needs and empowerment will be a key focus as knowledge workers demand more life-work-integration, well-being support and options for asynchronous work from organisations.
2. Work from (almost) anywhere will become more prevalent, as the infrastructure for true Remote Work is further established and supported eg. the growth of EOR (Employer of Record) like Remote.com and also supporting services such as insurance, from SafetyWing.com.
3. Hosting effective in-person events and meet-ups will be a new skill and talent area. As more teams work remotely, further emphasis will be put on the in-person time and its quality, leading to an increased emphasis on frequency, location, activities and social interactions.

And so to the Dubrovnik Work. Place. Culture. conference. Why does it appeal to you, what will you be speaking about, and what do you hope to get from your time in Dubrovnik?

Croatia’s efforts and innovation in the Digital Nomad space have been on my radar for a few years now! I am delighted to be able to visit in person and see the ecosystem for myself, taking the opportunity to learn from the wonderful team there.

My keynote will focus on the importance of community and human connection, to support any successful digital nomad and remote worker destination.

You obviously follow global trends in remote work. How do you assess Croatia's efforts so far, and what does it need to do to move things forward?

Firstly, what has been achieved so far needs to be recognised, as the Croatian digital nomad visa has only been active since January 2021. Few people appreciate the massive bureaucratic and administrative hurdles regions have surpassed to achieve and launch nomad and residency programs in recent times. So I applaud those efforts.

The future is nomadic so Croatia should continue to break down administrative barriers and proactively understand the needs of nomads that visit the Country.  Listen, learn and act on their guidance so that it is a win-win relationship.

You can learn more about and connect with Rowena through her official website, RoRemote, or through LinkedIn.

If you have not yet registered your team to participate in a luxury workation in Dubrovnik, you can do so through this LINK. Applications are until this Friday the 15th!

You can download the full programme of the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik here.

Work. Place. Culture. is a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads and TCN, with support from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia and Dubrovacka Bastina. Zagreb Digital Nomad Week is a partnership between Zagreb Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads, and TCN. 

To learn more about magnificent Dubrovnik, check out the Total Croatia Dubrovnik in a Page guide, in partnership with Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.  

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

April 12, 2022 - With just under a month to go until the innovative Work. Place. Culture. remote work conference in Dubrovnik, TCN continues its look at the list of high-class international speakers who will be sharing their wisdom in the Pearl of the Adriatic. Up next, we talk with Sarah Hawley, who recently founded Growmotely, the world's first remote work marketplace, placing professionals into long-term and full-time positions at companies they love.

A busy season for Croatia's digital nomad story is about to begin. Last year's highlights included the introduction of the digital nomad permit on January 1, 2021, and destinations such as Zagreb and Dubrovnik attracted global interest with award-winning events such as Zagreb Digital Nomad Week and Dubrovnik Nomads-in-Residence project.

Both Zagreb and Dubrovnik will continue their push to position themselves in the market in 2022, with Zagreb Digital Nomad Week 2022 set to take place in June, and a news conference before that in Dubrovnik, as previously reported on TCN: Work. Place. Culture.

Work.Place.Culture is the conference which brings work from anywhere to absolutely everywhere. Join remote professionals and destinations from around the world as they inspire a global workforce that has greater location flexibility than ever before, and the destinations which are reinventing to support them through policy, infrastructure, and community.

Additionally, as part of the Work.Place.Culture Conference, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board is launching its official workation program pilot, in conjunction with Saltwater and Sun Gardens Dubrovnik. The winning team will enjoy a 1-week stay (between 1 and 9 May 2022) at the 5 Star Sun Gardens Dubrovnik and have the chance to partake in a specialty workshop – strategy planning, team building, wellbeing, and leadership are among the options available. The all-star team will also present at the Work. Place. Culture. Conference on 5-7 May 2022. Applications are open until this Friday, April 15! Click HERE to apply.

Total Croatia News continues to present the elite lineup for the Work. Place. Culture., this time with Sarah Hawley. Sarah launched the Growmotely platform during the pandemic, with the goal of connecting professionals with their dream jobs at companies they love, and to date, Growmotely has already placed 100 professionals in remote jobs that will help them find the balance they seek between travel and professional development. Sarah will be one of the ambassadors at the Work.Place.Culture Conference and she will share all of her wisdom regarding the evolution of work culture with the attendees.

Just reading the About Us page on your personal website put a smile on my face. You clearly are in a great personal space at the moment. Tell us about that and the journey to get there.

Ah thank you! I do have a wonderful life (filled with all the usual ups and downs related to being human!) and I'd say I've very intentionally created it. In 2014, I decided to turn all my businesses remote and move to the USA from Australia. I spent most years pre-pandemic traveling for 8+ months, and built a large global community. During the pandemic I met my now husband, and had a baby (along with launching Growmotely!) so there were lots of very shiny silver linings for me during this time.

Your new project is called Growmotely, which launched about a year ago. Introduce it and tell us how it is going.

Growmotely is the world's first remote work marketplace, placing professionals into long term and full-time positions at companies they love. We firmly rooted in culture-matching and helping candidate and companies find alignment and culture fit. We're a community co-creating the future of work together, and it's an incredible, passion-fueled journey. We're currently crowdfunding, which is also very exciting to be providing deeper ways for our community to be a part of building this together, investment starts at just $150.

Interestingly, you say that you have moved away from traditional advertising in favour of community generated PR, an interesting move. How is that working?

So well! It took us just three months to be growing organically at the same rate as we were previously having to pay for growth. We feel really proud of our conviction in making a tough decision, and staying true to our values and integrity. Our community is our top priority, and growing from such a strong core of committed professionals is incredibly rewarding.

The concept of work is clearly changing rapidly. What advice do you have for people who are interested in exploring more, but are a little afraid to take the leap?

In this case, I promise you... the grass IS greener on the other side! While it may seem scary at first to step into the new world of work, you won't look back. The freedom to build your lifestyle exactly how you'd like it, to have the freedom to move around and travel, and to work with a globally diverse group of people everyday is worth overcoming any lingering fears!

How many job placements have you achieved so far at Growmotely, and do you have a favourite story?

To date we've placed almost 100 professionals (not including our own team) into meaningful, remote work at companies they love. Just last week two sisters from Nigeria were placed into (different) companies in the same week! Seeing two women, sisters, who were committed to creating a better life for themselves, go on that journey together and support each other was really powerful, and the fact the both received offers within a matter of days felt like divine timing.   

One of your aims is to visit every country in the world. How is that going, and is Croatia already on the list?

I've already visited Croatia, yes! However VERY excited to return. I'm at around 60 right now, and the past couple of years definitely slowed my pace. I also have a one year old now, so it might continue to evolve at a slower pace, however life is long and I'm excited to continue on this adventure.

And so to the Dubrovnik Work. Place. Culture. conference. Why does it appeal to you, what will you be speaking about, and what do you hope to get from your time in Dubrovnik?

I'm excited Croatia understands the importance of the shifts work has made, and are making such a beautiful effort and intention to welcome people in and open up this conversation for a more integrated work and life experience. I'll be sharing my own experiences, specifically how remote work opened up for me a path into conscious leadership. I'll share with our attendees how work culture is evolving, and how to step into a more conscious leadership space, turning our organizations into vehicles for transformational healing, growth and evolution for the people we work with.

You obviously follow global trends in remote work. How do you assess Croatia's efforts so far, and what does it need to do to move things forward?

Croatia seems truly invested in welcoming nomads and building a thriving hotspot for global workers to come and experience Croatian life. I'm excited to watch how this evolves. From our perspective, work is being uncoupled from nation-state, and in effect becoming more simplified. It's my hope we can move toward a much simpler regulatory environment for both workers, and small businesses, allowing individuals to personally arrange their own taxes and companies to simply engage people without having so much local legislation to comply with.

Sarah's new book Conscious Leadership is available now. You can listen it FREE on Audible.

If you have not yet registered your team to participate in a luxury workation in Dubrovnik, you can do so through this LINK. Applications are until this Friday the 15th!

You can download the full programme of the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik here.

Work. Place. Culture. is a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads and TCN, with support from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia and Dubrovacka Bastina. Zagreb Digital Nomad Week is a partnership between Zagreb Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads, and TCN. 

To learn more about magnificent Dubrovnik, check out the Total Croatia Dubrovnik in a Page guide, in partnership with Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.  

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section. 

April 4, 2022 - Ahead of the upcoming Work.Place.Culture conference in Dubrovnik, organizer Tanja Polegubić of Saltwater Nomads shares more details about an event that continues to establish the Pearl of the Adriatic as a mecca for remote work. The sale of early bird tickets ends today at midnight.

All nomadic roads lead to Dubrovnik, and you are embarking on your third event in the Pearl of the Adriatic, after Croatia's first-ever nomad conference in October 2020, and the award-winning Dubrovnik Nomads-in-Residence program. Before we get to the event, why Dubrovnik (which was not a perceived nomad destination), and why do you keep coming back?

There’s an Instagram video by Goran Visnjic which shows exactly why I keep coming back - I even drive around twice, for double the thrill.  

Like everything, the people. It’s so easy to work with the Tourist Board and City; this can be rare in Croatia. Also - the vision to shift from over-tourism. I freely admit I avoided the city in the peak of summer, and this is part of multiple steps to address this for future generations. I’m really fortunate that I can say I played a small part in the reinvention story of such an iconic destination, as it builds in sustainable measures in tourism. Also, see video above. 

Defining tangible results in a sector where little data is collected (nobody registers as a digital nomad) are hard to quantify. That there has been a perception change about Dubrovnik is evident when comparing British media stories from 2017 (The Times using Dubrovnik as a poster child for overtourism v. The Guardian in 2021 with a Dubrovnik leading image for a feature on digital nomad visas). How else do you quantify progress?

In the original pitch to the city, there was a quote from a 2017 NomadList user saying “nice place to visit, but only for a few days” with very little mention of Dubrovnik - this review was in 2020. Fast forward to 5 years now, and for example, a Dubrovnik Digital Nomads Dubrovnik Facebook group I started nears 700 members. And we know the average number of monthly digital nomads in Dubrovnik, according to Nomad List, is several hundred - and all the graphs for Croatia have a steep upward trajectory. Following this, the way to see the rise will be in long-stay occupancy and related businesses remaining open. 

Your last event in the city a year ago, Dubrovnik Nomads-in-Residence, has already picked up a couple of international awards. Tell us a little about the impact that it has had on the city's thinking and strategy.

The Dubrovnik Digital Nomads-in-Residence program really highlighted the areas to focus on, and the City and Tourist Board are implementing these with ‘quick wins’ and longer-term goals. The workation and conference were part of those recommendations - the momentum is strong, and it’s a strategic approach.

And so to 2022. Saltwater Nomads is teaming up once again with Dubrovnik for another innovative conference called Work. Place. Culture. Tell us about the conference and what it is trying to achieve.

Following the work from home shift arising from global lockdowns, the greatest shift right now is the return to the office for millions of people - so, what does something like hybrid look like? If you don’t want to go to a physical office again - how do you champion this change internally, or as it has been popularly coined, do you join ‘The Great Resignation’? This conference brings this thinking - and leaders in their field with very close insights to share this information. It also allows destinations to open up their doors to raise awareness to the ready-to-work-from-anywhere crowd, while also learning about expectations and shaping their thinking as they craft a revamped offer- with so many countries now offering a digital nomad visa, having a digital nomad offer for tourism is going to be part of the furniture. As the name implies, it brings together work and place - with aspects of culture for both.

Who is it aimed at, and why should they come?

Those in the HR or remote space. Especially anyone interested in the latest data and trends. It’s a very interactive program design, including netwalking on the Old Town walls as part of the program, and several outdoor sessions - from nature park islands to medieval replica sailing ships. Also, any digital nomads in Croatia who ultimately want to visit Dubrovnik - this is a great opportunity to explore the city in great company, and also - anyone considering a workation.

The speakers list is being finalised, but can you give us a teaser?

We’ve now started sharing who is joining us, and we have some real ‘heavyweights’. Aaron McEwan, who was recently interviewed by TCN, will cover Radical Flexibility. We have 3 of LinkedIn’s Top 10 voices in Remote Work coming in person. Plus digital nomads and some exciting stories from destinations, which we’ll also share in coming weeks.  

As one of the pioneers of the cowork revolution in Croatia, co-organiser of the Dubrovnik events, Zagreb Digital Nomad Week, and co-founder of the Digital Nomad Association Croatia, you seem to be at the heart of many of the remote work initiatives driving Croatia forward. How do you see progress, and what are the key things missing which would help accelerate Croatia's path to become a major player in this exciting sector in the future?

Our DNA Croatia Reflection Day was a really positive way to start the year, to look back but also forward - and the uptake from all regions of Croatia is a sign of momentum and strength.

I would say budget - financial investment, is missing. When you look at places like Lisbon paying Web Summit $10million a year, per year, for a decade, you realise just how different a playing field we’re on. What we’ve done is remarkable, and the destinations are attractive - there’s not much effort needed to convince people to come- but I can only imagine what could be achieved, and also we know the numbers and average spend of nomads, so there is a case to increase investment in this area. Read: public support is missing in most places. Hopefully, this changes.

Early Bird tickets are available until today at midnight and can be booked via the official website.

You can download the full programme of the Work.Place.Culture Conference in Dubrovnik here.

Work. Place. Culture. is a collaboration between the City of Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads and TCN, with support from the Digital Nomad Association Croatia and Dubrovacka Bastina. Zagreb Digital Nomad Week is a partnership between Zagreb Tourist Board, Saltwater Nomads, and TCN. 

To learn more about magnificent Dubrovnik, check out the Total Croatia Dubrovnik in a Page guide, in partnership with Sun Gardens Dubrovnik.  

For more news and features on digital nomads in Croatia, follow the dedicated TCN section.