Digital Nomads as a Viable Market Segment: A Systematic Literature Review

Digital nomadism, characterised by location-independent professionals who leverage digital technologies to work remotely, is transforming patterns of global mobility, tourism, and labour. Initially a niche lifestyle, it has evolved into a mainstream phenomenon influencing destination development, national visa policies, and urban infrastructure planning. The growing interest in digital nomads reflects broader shifts in the work culture, post-pandemic flexibility, and the search for work-life balance in lifestyle-oriented destinations. These travellers differ from traditional tourists in duration of stay, spending behaviour, and their engagement with local communities. This systematic literature review explores the state of academic research on digital nomads, focusing on their motivations, impacts on host destinations, infrastructural needs, and the strategic responses by countries seeking to attract them. Guided by the Arksey and O’Malley scoping review framework and PRISMA guidelines, 11 peer-reviewed studies published between 2014 and 2024 were analysed. Findings show that while destinations in the Global North, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America have adopted targeted policies—such as digital nomad visas, tax incentives, and coworking hubs—Sub-Saharan Africa remains notably absent in both research and practice. Notable findings reveal that digital nomads are primarily motivated by cost-effectiveness, lifestyle freedom, internet accessibility, and cultural experiences. Host communities benefit from the economic diversification and the global visibility, but face risks of displacement, income increase and digital gentrification. Despite its rich biodiversity, affordability, and improving digital infrastructure, Uganda has not yet positioned itself to attract this emerging market segment. This review highlights a significant geographic research gap and proposes an agenda to explore digital nomads as a viable market segment in Uganda. The findings have implications for tourism policymakers and for the investors seeking to diversify their post-COVID recovery strategies. Limitations include the language bias, the exclusion of grey literature, and the narrow regional representation in the reviewed studies.