The touristification of work: Coworking spaces and digital nomads in Barcelona

Identificador:  imarina:9470717

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9470717

Autors:  Sánchez Vergara, José Ignacio; Orel, Marko

Resum:
Digital nomadism refers to a mode of work and life in which pro- fessionals leverage digital technologies to work remotely while contin- uously traveling (Orel, 2021). This phenomenon has expanded rapidly over the past two decades with the rise of high-speed internet, tele- working policies, and collaboration platforms (Matos & Ard´evol, 2021). Digital nomads are typically freelancers, entrepreneurs, or remote em- ployees who carry out their duties online from various locations worldwide (Cook, 2023). They often perceive the combination of flex- ible work arrangements and geographic mobility as enhancing their wellbeing and work-life balance (Holleran & Notting, 2023). In pursuit of autonomy and new cultural experiences, these workers seek desti- nations that offer both adequate infrastructure for productivity and an appealing quality of life (Holleran & Notting, 2023; Müller, 2016; Reichenberger, 2018; Thompson, 2019a). This study conceptualizes digital nomadism as a hybrid phenomenon that blurs traditional boundaries between work and tourism. While digital nomads engage in productive labor, their selection of destinations, consumption of urban amenities, and temporary residence patterns align them more closely with tourism mobilities than conventional labor migration. This hy- bridity is central to understanding how cities and workspaces strategi- cally position themselves to attract this population, deploying both business infrastructure and leisure experiences as complementary attractors (Hannonen, 2024; Thompson, 2019b). However, while digital nomadism has attracted growing scholarly interest, theoretical gaps remain in understanding how this lifestyle is entangled with urban spaces, local communities, and emerging infrastructures.