Digital nomadism and destination sustainability: a conditional sustainability framework of strain and institutional moderation

Purpose This study investigates the influence of digital nomadism on the economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability of host destinations. It considers perceived destination strain as a mediating factor and examines the roles of the remote work policy environment, host community receptiveness and smart destination capability as institutional boundary conditions. Design/methodology/approach An integrated model was developed and empirically tested by employing the sustainable livelihoods framework, carrying capacity theory, and institutional theory. Data collection was executed through a two-phase stakeholder survey conducted at digital nomad destinations in India (N = 338). The comprehensive model was estimated using SmartPLS 4.1, with 5,000 bootstrap iterations. Findings Digital nomadism exerts a positive influence on all three dimensions of sustainability; however, it also imposes a perceived burden on destinations, which partially diminishes these benefits through significant negative indirect effects. The three institutional moderators play a pivotal role: remote work policy most effectively alleviates the generation of strain, host community receptiveness mitigates socio-cultural erosion and smart destination capability enhances environmental resilience. Research limitations/implications Perceived destination strain is identified as a threshold-dependent mediating mechanism, thereby redefining the sustainability impacts of nomadism as conditional rather than inherently beneficial. Institutional moderators serve as pathway-specific buffers rather than generalized ones, thereby enhancing the application of institutional theory within tourism research. Practical implications Policymakers are encouraged to develop comprehensive governance frameworks that integrate regulation, sustainability levies and civic engagement. Destination managers should invest in infrastructure designed for digital nomads and promote community integration to transform digital nomadism into a sustainable and enduring asset. Originality/value This study presents one of the initial empirically validated analyses of the multidimensional sustainability impacts of digital nomadism within a comprehensive moderated-mediation framework. It shifts the focus from opportunity-centric narratives to emphasize governance-driven destination sustainability.