The successful conclusion of the inaugural Nomad Week, hosted by the City of Cape Town, underscored Cape Town’s strategic move to position itself as a global hub for remote workers.
While concerns have been raised about the impact of this trend on local affordability, data-driven insights reveal a compelling case for the economic benefits digital nomads bring to Cape Town’s property market, tourism sector, and job creation.
The rise of digital nomads is not just reshaping how we work, it’s creating a powerful economic opportunity for South Africa, particularly in the property sector,” comments Dean Lederle, co-founder at Launchbase, a proptech company based in Cape Town that has leveraged digital transformation to drive record-breaking property sales.
“Our proprietary ‘Blueprint’ software and psychology-driven marketing strategies have not only transformed the off-plan property buying experience but have also aligned perfectly with the surge in demand from digital nomads,” says Lederle.
In 2024 alone, the Launchbase Blueprint platform facilitated transactions exceeding R4,8-billion, with a record-breaking R310-million in single-day sales and a high-value property transaction reaching R23,8-million.
“The trend is not about displacing local buyers as locals still make up 80% of sales. It’s about attracting investment into a distinct segment of the market, which enables developers to reinvest in new projects to keep up with demand,” Lederle adds. “The accelerated pace of property development spurred by this demand translates into real economic benefits, from job creation in construction to increased revenue for local businesses that cater to remote workers.”