Something has changed in Bali

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In focus

In this edition, we cover:

• Bali’s digital nomad dilemma
• Southeast Asia and India seeing a glimmer of hope amid investment slump
• SEA leaders wanting to find new friends while under tariff pressure

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Hello reader,

Remote work is here to stay. As today’s Big Story shows, its impact goes far beyond the boardroom.

Digital nomads are flocking to Bali, drawn by its beauty and relatively low cost of living. But this wave of long-term remote workers is reshaping the Indonesian island in ways not everyone welcomes.

Unlike short-term tourists, these moneyed newcomers are driving up housing costs, pricing out local university students from once-affordable accommodations.

The article unpacks both the benefits and the backlash of Bali’s remote work boom and what it means for the local economy.

As Western remote workers reshape places like this island, Southeast Asian leaders are rethinking their global ties.

At an ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Kuala Lumpur, the bloc is looking beyond the West, eyeing deeper trade ties with China and the Gulf. The timing isn’t a coincidence: It’s a counter to the latest tariff tantrum from US President Donald Trump.

Call it a tale of two pivots – while digital nomads reinvent daily life, the region’s power brokers are crafting their own version of remote work: distancing themselves from America.

Peter Cowan, engagement editor

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The Big Story

Bali’s digital nomad boom is pricing out locals

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