Digital nomads between work, travel and urban transformation
Institutional Communication Service
5 May 2025
Who are digital nomads, what drives them to travel and impact do they have on cities? Alberica Bozzi (Gustave Eiffel University) and Fabiola Mancinelli (University of Barcelona), international experts on the subject, will deliver a series of lectures at USI as part of the Master in International Tourism. The inaugural lecture titled "Work, Wander, Wonder: A Journey in the Lives of Digital Nomads" will take place on Tuesday, 13 May, at 6 pm in room 355, West Campus Lugano. The lecture will be in English and open to the public.
Digital nomads are professionals who work while travelling, utilising a computer and an internet connection. This emerging phenomenon merges work and tourism, made possible by digital technology and the rise of remote work, which was accelerated by the pandemic. At its core, this trend reflects a significant shift in lifestyle driven by a desire for freedom, exploration, and independence.
This emerging community is transforming traditional tourist destinations into hybrid spaces that blend productivity with leisure. Many countries and cities, recognising the economic potential of this trend, are introducing special visas and welcome programs for digital nomads. However, the influx of these travellers presents new challenges, including increased competition for housing, rising costs, and potential social tensions.
Alberica Bozzi, PhD in urban planning, and Fabiola Mancinelli, professor of anthropology, will offer a critical reading of the phenomenon and its contemporary implications.
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Alberica Bozzi is a PhD student in urban planning at the Gustave Eiffel University (France). Since 2021, she has been exploring local strategies (Barcelona, Algarve, etc.) to attract and retain digital nomads in Europe.
Fabiola Mancinelli is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Barcelona. She has been studying digital nomads since 2016, analysing the connections between mobile lifestyles, remote work and platform economy.