In an attempt to boost tourism, New Zealand has announced measures to ease visa requirements in order to attract those who travel while working remotely, popularly known as "digital nomads", BBC reported. For up to 90 days, the tourists can stay, enjoy their holidays and work for their foreign employer as per the new visa norms. However, after the 90 days period is over, the tourists may have to pay resident's tax. New Zealand’s Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said, “The change will enable many visitors to extend their stays, which will lead to more money being spent in the country,” BBC reported. During the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand’s tourism industry faced a tough time as the country’s borders were closed and currently, the Kiwi’s economy is under economic recession. Boosting tourism via tweaking visa requirements is one of the tools to give the country’s GDP a much needed push. Minister Stanford added, “We welcome visitors of all types to New Zealand and in this particular announcement, those who are able to work as digital nomads here on our shores.” The New Zealand government informed that the changes in the visa applied to all the visitor visas, including for the people visiting their family, friends or partners on long term visas. As per Tourism New Zealand’s data, pre COVID-19, tourism was one of the largest export industries for the Kiwi’s and it contributed more than NZ$40 billion ($22 billion) to the economy. But this impressive data faced the heat during the pandemic. Other countries that offer similar visa services to the “digital nomad” include Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Spain and Brazil among others.
