"We have a demographic problem, we need to bring in new people, fresh blood," says the Secretary of State for Tourism in Portugal.
Portugal for Digital Nomads
Portugal for Digital Nomads Thought Catalog on Unsplash

The Portuguese government is interested in attracting more and more digital nomads to the country and is preparing, for example, a programme with tourism organisations to welcome and guide these professionals in the territory, announced the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rita Marques. According to the MP, who was speaking during a conference at the Web Summit, there are several advantages of the new regime for the entry of digital nomads in Portugal, and it is important to "attract young people to Portugal". This comes after Portugal announced its new digital nomad visa, with Rita Marques adding that in Portugal, "We have a demographic problem, we need to bring new people, fresh blood", adding that they are a group that "can boost the economy"

Portugal for foreign and Portuguese Digital Nomads

Rita Marques stressed that this is not a scheme dedicated only to foreigners, but also to Portuguese citizens who have gone abroad.

"We need to attract the Portuguese who left the country a years ago, and when we promote digital nomads, this also applies to Portuguese. We are not selling the country only to foreigners, but to Portuguese who work in American and Canadian companies and who can work from Portugal," she added.

Among the news announced by the Secretary of State is the creation of a programme in the 12 national tourism organisations: "Basically, the idea is to help the decision of these digital nomads, informing about the potential of the country, what will be the best location for them to settle".

"If they like surfing, probably the centre of the country, with Peniche and Nazaré are best, if they prefer the peace quiet of the Alentejo, Douro, Central region or the Azores, there are lots of options. The idea is to serve as a showcase of Portugal (...) and facilitate the decision," said Rita Marques to journalists, quoted by Lusa, on the sidelines of the panel "The Rise of the Digital Nomad".

Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash
Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

A modern country and "open" to the world, says António Costa

Portugal's Prime Minister António Costa addressed the topic days before during a visit to the exhibition pavilions of startups present at the Web Summit, which took place in Lisbon. The prime minister highlighted the importance of attracting digital nomads and considers it essential that Portugal remains open to the world and captures technological investment for its modernisation and development.

Questioned on the special tax and permanence regime granted by the State to the so-called digital nomads, whose arrival in the country may be worsening the price of housing in the country's main cities, the head of government considered it essential that Portugal be an attractive country and not closed to the world.

"Either we want to be a country closed to the world, and that is killing our history, culture and vocation; or we want to be what we have been, an open country, where everyone feels welcome, where everyone can develop their life projects," he replied.

These schemes aimed at attracting investment and young international workers, in the Executive leader's perspective and "are assets that the country has to maintain". The Prime Minister added, "We have to know how to welcome and we have to cherish. If we want to be an increasingly innovative country, with companies that grow on a global scale, it is essential that we have this dynamic".