You’ve heard of remote work. You’ve probably heard of outsourcing. But have you heard of software development tourism? It’s not just a fancy term. It’s a real shift happening right now—and it’s catching the attention of tech companies, digital nomads, and even governments.

This isn’t about taking your laptop to the beach for a week. It’s about combining travel and business in a way that benefits companies and developers alike. Think building software while exploring a different culture, meeting your team in person in a foreign city, or hiring top-tier talent from a tropical island that's quietly become a tech hotspot.

Let’s break it down and see why this is gaining traction.

What Is Software Development Tourism, Really?

The phrase sounds like a marketing gimmick, but it’s not. Software development tourism is when companies or individual developers travel to another country specifically for software development work. This might mean setting up temporary development hubs, joining local coding bootcamps, collaborating with offshore teams, or just working from locations known for tech talent.

It’s not just about saving costs—though that’s definitely part of it. It's also about exploring talent pools in new places, working across cultures, and injecting fresh perspectives into how software gets built.

Some companies are sending teams abroad to work closely with overseas developers. Others are encouraging their devs to temporarily relocate to places like Bali, Medellín, or Lisbon—cities that offer both solid infrastructure and a great quality of life.

Why It’s Becoming a Thing

There are a few reasons this is starting to catch on:

1. Remote Work Got Normal

Let’s be honest—remote work used to be the exception. Now? It’s the norm for a lot of tech roles. If your dev team is already working from home, does it really matter if home is in Boston or Bogotá?

Companies realized they didn’t need everyone under one roof. That cracked the door open to the idea of hiring or collaborating across borders. From there, software development tourism was a short hop away.

2. Cheaper Doesn’t Mean Lower Quality

A lot of companies looked to outsource in the past just to cut costs. But what’s different now is the quality of talent available globally. Developers in Vietnam, Ukraine, and Argentina are building world-class apps—and charging rates that won’t blow up your budget.

By traveling or working directly with these communities, companies get a better sense of what’s possible. It builds trust, and it’s often more productive than managing teams from thousands of miles away with zero face time.

3. Developers Want It, Too

Let’s not forget the devs themselves. A lot of them want this flexibility. They want to travel, experience new cultures, and still do solid work. For many, the idea of being stuck in one city feels like a dealbreaker. With more co-living and co-working spaces popping up around the world, developers are mixing work and travel without skipping a beat.

And when they land in a new place? They're connecting with local devs, sharing knowledge, and sometimes even launching side projects or startups. That kind of cross-pollination is hard to fake.

Who’s Doing This?

It’s not just freelancers and startup folks anymore. Bigger companies are dipping their toes into software development tourism too.

Startups & Digital Nomads

They were the first to figure it out. It made sense. Keep overhead low, work from anywhere, and stay inspired by new surroundings. A lot of today’s tech startups had at least one co-founder who coded their MVP from a beach in Southeast Asia or a mountain town in South America.

Agencies & Outsourcing Firms

Some agencies are creating hybrid teams—bringing in overseas developers for a few months at a time to work side-by-side with their in-house crew. Others are flying project managers out to meet with their outsourced devs. It’s a lot easier to align when you’ve shared a meal or two and worked in the same time zone for a while.

Mid-Sized Tech Companies

Companies with tight budgets but big plans are jumping in. They're setting up short-term offices in low-cost regions with strong tech communities. They’re not only hiring developers—they’re investing in partnerships with local universities, hosting meetups, and tapping into overlooked talent.

Where Are the Hotspots?

There are a few cities and countries that keep coming up when people talk about software development tourism:

  • Medellín, Colombia – Great weather, good internet, and a surprisingly deep tech talent pool.
  • Tbilisi, Georgia – Low cost of living, easy visa programs, and growing developer community.
  • Lisbon, Portugal – A magnet for digital nomads and full of tech startups.
  • Bali, Indonesia – More than beaches—co-working spaces here are filled with remote developers and founders.
  • Kraków, Poland – Solid universities, experienced engineers, and easy access to the EU market.

These places offer more than just affordability. They offer community, decent infrastructure, and enough of a tech ecosystem to keep things moving.

What’s in It for Companies?

If you’re running a tech company, you might be wondering: why bother? Isn’t it easier to just hire remote devs and call it a day?

Here’s what you gain by leaning into software development tourism:

  • Stronger relationships – Meeting your remote team face-to-face builds trust fast.
  • Better communication – Sometimes Slack and Zoom just don’t cut it.
  • Fresh perspectives – Developers in different parts of the world solve problems differently.
  • Lower costs – Working from places with a lower cost of living stretches your budget further.
  • Hiring edge – Offering travel or location flexibility can attract better talent.

And let’s be real—some of your best ideas won’t come from a conference room. They’ll come when your team’s relaxed, in a new environment, away from the usual grind.

Are There Downsides?

Sure, it’s not all sunsets and laptops.

  • Time zones can still be tricky.
  • Not every place has stable internet or good power backup.
  • Managing distributed teams still takes effort.
  • And yeah, there’s always the risk of distraction—especially when you're working from a place that feels like vacation.

But most of these can be handled with clear planning and communication.

Could This Be the Future?

It’s already happening. Slowly, but steadily. As more companies get comfortable with remote work, software development tourism is becoming more appealing.

We're not talking about everyone packing up and moving across the globe. It's more about building flexible, international workflows that let teams work together more meaningfully—whether that means flying out for a sprint, spending a month co-working in another country, or just hiring talent from places you never considered before.

The more you look into it, the more it makes sense.

Ready to Think Outside the Office?

If you’re building software and not exploring global options, you might be missing out. The world’s full of smart developers, affordable places to work, and opportunities to connect beyond borders.

So ask yourself: what’s stopping you from working with a team in Vietnam, or setting up a dev camp in Portugal for a month?

You don’t need a massive budget or a big name. Just curiosity, a bit of planning, and the willingness to try something new.

Because when code meets compass, interesting things start to happen.