The Canary Islands are the lastest to offer tourists the opportunity to change their scenery by working abroad. The region is expected to be one of the hardest-hit economically, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tourism contributed at least $16 Billion to the economy in 2019. However, with mandatory shutdown orders and fewer people traveling, the islands will be lucky to bring in half of what it made in 2019.
To make up for the loss, Yaiza Castilla, the regional chief of tourism, said her department launched a $500,000 international campaign to attract 30,000 remote workers.
“It’s about enabling our know-how on the hospitality industry, and how to welcome people and take care of them, to achieve longer periods of stay,” Jose Juan Lorenzo, the director of Canary Islands Tourism, told Euro News.
The Canary Islands are located in the southern part of Spain, so aspiring digital nomads will have to follow the country’s entry guidelines.
As of now, the best remote work option offered in the islands is through Spain’s Self Employment Visa. This allows foreigners to enter Spain, to live and carry out work or professional self-employment activities. This visa will grant you up to a one-year stay. There is no word if an additional program specifically for the Canary Islands will come.
Tourism leaders from Barbados, Aruba, Mauritius, and Dubai have also implemented long-stay visas for remote workers.
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