“Intercambio” is a service to connect skilled professionals willing to work remotely in a foreign country with local businesses that aim to make a difference.

Costa Rica is world-renowned for its biodiversity and pioneering in sustainable tourism. Interviews with subject matter experts and secondary data research revealed that travellers are seeking more than just the ‘authentic’ experience; The next wave involves people “intentionally traveling to stretch, learn and grow into new ways of being and engaging with the world" (The Transformational Travel Council).

The design challenge was to reframe tourism to become more resilient and life-centred in Costa Rica following the global pandemic. In this context, short-term travel is environmentally unsustainable and less desirable. The team targeted a broad segment who are mobile through their use of telecommunications technologies to earn a living, and service providers that cater visitors in Costa Rica for a medium-term (3 to 12 month) stay.

The goal of intercambio is to build a sustainable and responsible medium-term expatriate community through foreign-local exchange. The service includes digital and in-person touchpoints to interface between customers, partner businesses and individual service providers (ie. guides).

The target segment is technologically literate and uses digital tools to plan their professional and personal engagements. For onboarding, intercambio leverages testimonial advertising on professional networking sites to establish social proof and referral business.

Arrival in-country is facilitated by a ‘local buddy’. Rather than sight-seeing, buddies provide the ‘local friend’ experience of connecting new arrivals with essential services and facilitating their settling in with the community. Buddies introduce remote workers with local business circles that meet regularly to support one another.

Users can make mico-donations towards a specific community need or volunteer their time and unique skills. The remote worker will be connected with an alumni network of community circle contributors in order to sustain contact, track progress and close the loop for return business.