JOHOR BARU: Future initiatives to ease the movement of people under the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) have the potential to attract digital nomads to the state, says Johor executive councillor Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh (pic).
The state works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman said such efforts, coupled with good Internet connectivity in Johor, will make the state a magnet for digital nomads.
“One of the steps being discussed under the SEZ is to make it easier for people working in Singapore to stay in Johor with a special pass.
“While this may not be an initiative specifically aimed at attracting digital nomads, I believe it will help make the state an attractive place for the group to consider.
“On top of that, Johor is one of the states with the best Internet coverage in the country, making it a good choice for digital nomads,” he said in an interview.
Mohamad Fazli added that ongoing efforts to improve connectivity along highways throughout the state would also make it easier for digital nomads to operate here.
“We are in the middle of improving phone and Internet connectivity along our highways as there are still areas with no line,” he said.
Meanwhile, Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman Jimmy Leong said the state government should conduct a study to learn more about the needs of digital nomads and come up with suitable initiatives.
“We have not seen a lot of digital nomads flocking to Johor, and I think this is an area worth exploring as it is also a way to boost the local economy and tourism industry.
“The state government should study the matter thoroughly, including understanding the needs and trends involving digital nomads,” he said.
Malaysian Association of Hotels Johor chapter chairman Ivan Teo said some hotels here are looking into providing co-working spaces to cater to the needs of digital nomads.
“This is an area that has been under-explored, and we should consider looking into it as a way to improve the occupancy rate for weekdays.
“Some hotels are already looking into turning their cafes into co-working spaces during off-peak periods to attract digital nomads,” he said.
