On Wednesday, October 1st, in Dubrovnik, Croatia, R-Map participated in the REMOTE-IT Final Event, represented by Mandy Fransz, who returned to the city where she previously served as a Dubrovnik Digital Nomad Ambassador in 2022. The event marked the conclusion of a two-and-a-half-year collaboration among eight European cities, focused on exploring how remote and hybrid work are reshaping urban life, local economies, and governance.

Remote Work and the Urban-Rural Divide Findings

During her presentation, Mandy shared early findings from R-Map’s ongoing research into Remote Work Arrangements (RWAs) and their potential to bridge the urban-rural divide in Europe and beyond. Key insights included:

• Preferred Living Location:
• • 41% of remote workers prefer rural areas as their ideal home base.
  • Only 17% favor urban settings.

• Key Amenities Valued (within walking distance):

• • Access to public transportation – 60.67%
  • Grocery stores – 60.42%
  • Parks and green spaces – 59.85%

• Top Motivators for Relocation:

• • Quality of life ranked highest – 64%
  • Only 7% cited digital infrastructure as a key factor

R-Map’s Voice in the Panel Discussion

In the panel session “Cities as Enablers: Supporting Ecosystems for Remote Work & Digital Nomads”, Mandy joined experts including Jean-Yves Huwart and Tracey Johnson to discuss how cities and regions can move beyond short-term digital nomad trends and actively build sustainable ecosystems for remote professionals.

A key takeaway is that attracting and retaining remote workers to a specific destination takes more than fast Wi-Fi, it requires a holistic approach that supports their integration into the local community and economy, from infrastructure and services to taxes, healthcare, and even adopting the local language.

Drawing from both research and personal experience, Mandy’s key message for cities and regions looking to build sustainable, remote-friendly destinations: “Think beyond digital nomadism – focus on turning digital nomads into remote work residents instead.”

A Shared Mission for the Future of Work

We were pleased to be part of REMOTE-IT’s journey, with our fruitful synergy reflecting shared efforts to understand and shape the future of work, mobility, and urban transformation across Europe.