There are Digital Nomads, Travelers, and a Tourists - Which one are you?

People like to put things into categories, it’s simply in the human nature. By doing this simple process, we can easily absorb new information while connecting the dots with some of our previous experiences.

Just recently, I had an interesting conversation with a group of travelers I met, and they asked a question which tickled my mind. They wanted to know, was I a digital nomad, traveler or just a tourist. Well, I had to think about it for a second, and I realized this question was a lot more intriguing that it seems. At the end of the day, many individuals love to travel, but they don’t necessarily know the difference between these terms. So, if you find yourself to be in that group, pay attention, because you might just learn a thing or two. Here we go!

What do they all have in common?

First and foremost, before we get into the differences, let’s try to find some common ground. What stands out right from the start is the love for traveling. While this passion might not be the same in all cases, all of these individuals cannot imagine what their life would be like without getting the chance to meet foreign cultures. To some, traveling is the passion that drives them forward, to others, it’s simply a way to relieve stress and change their surroundings for a couple of days. Either way, if this activity brings a lot of joy to you personally, chances are you belong in some of these categories.

Digital Nomads

This term has really exploded in recent years, as more and more people felt drawn to the digital nomad lifestyle. Modern era comes with many advantages, and one of the main ones is certainly the ability to communicate over long distances.

It didn’t take long before people started to realize they can make a career for themselves while visiting their dream destinations. By combining business with pleasure, they created the ultimate lifestyle which suits their needs perfectly. Numerous industry leaders quickly realized the benefits of remote work, so it was a match made in heaven. All digital nomads need to have access to the Internet, but nowadays, that’s practically a non-issue, as they can work anywhere from coffee shops, public libraries, hotels, to even co-working spaces, which are getting more popular by the day.

Travelers

Don’t confuse travelers with tourists. The first group of people always tries to find a way to experience every single nuance of the place they visit. Instead of sticking with popular tourist destinations, these individuals are more inclined to do a bit of research, and perhaps visit some less famous locations which also possess great beauty.

If you like to shop in places most locals do, eat in their restaurants of choice, and scour through forums weeks ahead of visiting the place, trying to get the most information you can, chances are you should consider yourself a traveler.

Tourists

Finally, we come to the last part of this article. Tourists are people who love to travel, but their primary goal is to relax. It should come as no surprise that they oftentimes aren’t too willing to explore their destination ahead of time, as they claim that it takes away from the overall experience.

There’s nothing wrong with sightseeing the popular attractions, and traveling as a part of the group can be a great experience. This is especially true for young people who love to party. Tourists get quite a bad reputation for having to film everything and take thousands of pictures a day, but there’s nothing wrong with that. You’d want to create memories wherever you go.

What does this say about you?

Ultimately, the goal of visiting a new destination is to have fun. No matter if you belong in the tourist, traveler or digital nomad group, your objective should always be to enjoy life to the fullest. The truth is, most people start off as tourists, and when they discover this passion, they move on to become travelers or even digital nomads. Start your journey and see where the road takes you.