The second edition of the Alicante International Conference, a destination for remote work and digital nomads, had the attraction this morning of Marc Sanderson, director of the Málaga Open for Business Office. This municipal organization was responsible for positioning the destination as a destination for investment in digital projects and considered a benchmark for attracting technological talent.
His presentation revealed the roadmap that the city of Málaga has been pursuing for decades, which culminated in the creation of this office in 2009, which channels projects and initiatives to attract companies like Google and national and international talent. So far, there's nothing to add to a city that has just earned the first certification in Spain as a "digital nomad" destination issued by Aenor.
However, their challenges have become a complicated handicap: a lack of land and high housing prices. This is where entrepreneurs see an opportunity to differentiate themselves and attract new interest.
"We have to replicate, not copy," said Pablo Torres, a consultant specializing in hospitality (tasks related to welcoming and providing hospitality to guests) and one of the event's promoters, along with Fundeun and the City Council. "Alicante is smaller and has space to fill," he added, referring to Málaga.
Her note is a kind of summary after a roundtable discussion at which business leaders and those responsible for two digital nomad initiatives outlined the progress made in the city and the to-do list. If we're referring to Málaga, the first issue is the lack of a "manager, working group, or other mechanism" to connect us and generate "the synergies we need," complained Diana Carrasco, founder of Simple Social Hub, located in Gran Alacant (Santa Pola). She is a veteran and a leading figure in the community and believes that sharing what's being done in the province would be positive for positioning the destination.
On that point, Jean Baptiste Michel, founder of NomadWay, agrees. Based in Alicante for four years, this Frenchman has created a group that already has more than 3,000 subscribers. "We've held events where people from Murcia have even come, and they ask us where I can live in the province, because the city is expensive," he comments.
Competitive prices
Money is a barrier to entry in large cities. Javier Reina, CEO of Custom Suits, explains that in Alicante, "the range for a coworking space is between 180 and 240 euros per month, while in Madrid, it's around 400 euros." This circumstance influences the services provided and the profitability, sparking a debate between tourists and digital nomads.
Daniel Elman, president of the Abtur tourist apartment association and CEO of Myflats, believed public incentives were needed to focus efforts on this type of accommodation, which is less profitable than short-stay accommodation. Although the impact of remote work on the local economy is greater, the sticking point was housing and the additional options available to those seeking experiences or, as in the case of Pedro Cruz of the AddValora insurance group, "fled Madrid."
Pablo Torres emphasized that "if I had a magic wand, I think Alicante needs a one-stop shop. I don't know if it should be Alia, but the feeling is that we need to focus on the follow-up that digital nomads, who already have communities or spaces like Diana's, have requested. The private sector is already doing its work; we're missing that central hub."
Quality of life and well-being include healthcare and schools if you're moving with your family; but also an offering that goes beyond sun and sand. With Málaga as a backdrop, the panel discussed the need for heritage-related attractions and experiences of all kinds.
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