Digital nomads sometimes work in the midst of nature, blending professional activities with leisure. Photo: TUCHONG

In 1997, Tsugio Makimoto, a senior executive at the Japanese conglomerate Hitachi, and British journalist David Manners introduced the concept of the “digital nomad.” They predicted that with the aid of modern information and communication technologies such as the internet, people would one day transcend the traditional constraints of time and place in their work, enabling them to travel and live around the world. This article examines how the rise of digital nomadism is reshaping travel literature through the lens of narrative reconstruction.

Enriching narrative themes, perspectives

Digital nomads yearn for freedom and embody a spirit of adventure. Their motivations for relocation include lowering the cost of living, achieving work–life balance, and pursuing personal projects. Livable cities and attractive destinations are among their top choices. Rather than merely seeking employment, they move between locations in pursuit of particular lifestyles. This unique way of living and traveling expands the narrative space of travel literature and breaks away from conventional patterns.

Traditionally, travel literature often centers on popular tourist attractions, landmarks, and the traveler’s various observations and adventures. For instance, The Travels of Marco Polo portrays the bustling cities of China’s Yuan Dynasty, weaving narratives of urban landscapes, historical changes, and cultural customs. The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake records what the author saw and heard, mostly in the third person, allowing readers to appreciate the grandeur of the scenery as if from an observer’s perspective.

In contrast, digital nomads are often drawn to lesser-known regions, engaging in deeply immersive travel and living experiences. This diversifies the themes of travel literature and even sparks reflections on social issues. For example, some explore unique local religious cultures, documenting religious rituals, the myths behind religious architecture, and the special uses of traditional handicrafts in religious festivals. Others highlight the scarcity of educational resources in remote areas by depicting learning environments and the efforts and struggles of locals to improve education.

In terms of narrative perspective, digital nomads often use the first person to detail their emotional experiences during travel—the nervousness and excitement of arriving in unfamiliar and distant places, the confusion and delight of interacting with locals, and their reluctance to leave. This approach offers readers a more authentic and immersive reading experience.

Digital nomads transform the exploration of personal identity into a way of life, seamlessly integrating work and travel. The interplay of high mobility, flexible career choices, and self-directed work arrangements shapes their complex and fluid identities. This encourages them to foreground their multifaceted identities and emotional complexities in narrative construction, thereby developing more nuanced and authentic identity narratives. Many participate in local cultural exchanges and collaborations, simultaneously assuming the roles of tourist, worker, and intercultural communicator. They must weigh economic benefits against cultural preservation and sustainable development, while also interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

In the digital nomad context, identity construction in travel literature is also realized through self-presentation and impression management on social media platforms. Carefully curated posts highlight freedom, enjoyment, adventure, and healthy living. By sharing aspects of their daily routines and private lives, digital nomads narrow the distance between themselves and their audiences while staying attuned to feedback through social media’s interactive features.

Driven by psychological needs, empowered by technology

The psychological needs of digital nomads significantly influence narrative reconstruction in travel literature. They place particular emphasis on individual freedom and inner exploration, viewing travel as a means of self-discovery, identity formation, and achieving individual autonomy. They utilize their professional skills to sustain remote work and livelihood, continually challenging themselves and realizing personal value along the way—rendering their portrayals richer and more credible. Hedonic needs also shape narrative style: vivid depictions of natural beauty, culinary delights, and diverse cultural customs, along with nuanced expressions of inner feelings, reflect a pursuit of life’s pleasures and help readers more intuitively experience the allure and significance of travel.

With the development of digital infrastructure and the widespread use of social media, the creation of travel literature is no longer limited to professional writers—digital nomads are gradually emerging as a new force. They document and share their travel and living experiences through social media, forging a distinctive narrative style, expanding the breadth and depth of travel literature, and amplifying its influence through extensive dissemination channels. This contributes to the flourishing of travel literature in contemporary society.

Looking ahead, empowered by technology, shaped by the de-spatialization of work, and influenced by growing resistance to excessive competition, digital nomadism and the digitalization of rural revitalization may increasingly converge. “Digital nomads” could evolve into “digital rural residents,” empowering rural revitalization through travel literature. Governments at all levels, along with society at large, should foster a supportive environment, providing effective policy support and guidance for digital nomads.

Xu Jiajia is an associate professor from the School of Foreign Languages at Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade.