Jakarta Lures Digital Nomads to Work from Its Islands

TheIndonesia.id - The Governor of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, promoted the Thousand Islands area as a place to work online as well as travel (digital nomads) which is now a trend in society. Jakarta will provide free Internet network points on those islands.

"Digital nomads are new entities. This is unique, they work but are not limited to location. We want those with high productivity and mobility to be able to take advantage of the Thousand Islands," said Anies on Bidadari Island, Seribu Islands, Tuesday, May 24, 2022.

The government of Jakarta has prepared around 9,000 free internet network points throughout Jakarta, including tourist areas in the Thousand Islands. "We prepared free wifi. This was accelerated during the pandemic when people had to work from home, we intervened to prepare 9,000 access points, free of charge," he added when launching the "Jakarta Celebration" series of DKI's 495th Anniversary.

On Bidadari Island, for example, free Internet networks are available, including Bidadari free wifi and jakwifi.

Meanwhile, regarding the distance from mainland Jakarta, Anies revealed that several tourist islands in the Thousand Islands can be reached in about 30 minutes from the mainland. He also mentioned that the cost for a 'digital nomad' in the Thousand Islands is also affordable with a different atmosphere compared to the usual working hours in mainland Jakarta.

"The point is you don't have to go far but you will get a new atmosphere and low cost, short time, affordable living costs. So, you can get a new atmosphere of high productivity and low cost," said Anies.

The former Minister of Education and Culture added that there are 111 islands in the Thousand Islands regency of which 11 are populated islands and seven of them are islands prepared for tourism activities including accommodation. "These nomads want to work in a different atmosphere, come to the Thousand Islands, facilities are prepared here, there are 111 islands, there are 11 inhabited islands, there are seven islands ready for tourism activities," Anies added.

Meanwhile, a digital nomad, Ashari Yudha, on the same occasion hopes for infrastructure support that back digital workers both domestically and abroad. "For foreigners, how to extend KITAS (permanent resident) faster, there are outlets and money changer infrastructure. Then, it is created like a community as well if in Jakarta for example a co-working space," he said.