The City Council of Ribeira Grande is aware that individuals who work online and travel full time embody a reality on the rise in the world, greatly enhanced by the Covid-19 pandemic, one that may represent new opportunities to generate wealth in the municipality.

"Digital nomads, a public that seems to have increased during the pandemic, seek places like Ribeira Grande, with sea and surf always present; under the motto 'Ribeira Grande, capital of surf', we want to take the concept of digital nomads and attract this kind of public. By doing so, we are also emphasizing our local economy: if more people stay here for longer periods, the return for local economy will be more significant", highlights the Mayor of Ribeira Grande (CMRG), Alexandre Gaudêncio.

At the moment, a survey is being carried out on public spaces for digital nomads to work for free. A task made easier by the fact that the municipality is practically covered with fiber-optic internet. With crucial importance, good-quality, fast internet connections allow "anyone, anywhere in the municipality, to work remotely, as if you were anywhere else in the world”.

This plan will be followed by a “very intensive” marketing campaign to target the audience.

By realizing that remote workers also enjoy exchanging knowledge and socializing, the municipality is working on the plan so that, “probably by the end of this year, we can start with a campaign to promote Ribeira Grande for this specific public".

Economy of the sea in focus
The first edition of the fair “Mar com Vida!” was held at Praia de Santa Bárbara, an event organized by CMRG, which is applying for the GAL Açores Oriental – Mar 2020 Operational Program, intended to bring together associations, companies and professionals to promote local fish products and tourist products linked to the sea in the municipality.

At the event, which was attended by several speakers, the certification process of beaches was presented, through the implementation of Standard 13009:2015. Several companies and public entities also presented projects with a view to promote initiatives related to the economy of the sea in Ribeira Grande.