A series of protests took place throughout July in the heart of Mexico City. Angry residents took them down the streets to oppose gentlemen, vastness and increased costs of living. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Mexican capital has seen dramatic growth in the number of “digital nomads” who have moved to cities tempted by vibrant culture, relaxed visa rules and relative affordability.
Similar demonstrations took place in major European tourist destinations. Barcelona, Mallorca, Venice, Naples, Lisbon and other cities are battling short-term vacation rentals, rising rents and even surges in water shortages caused by rising visitors. In 2024, Barcelona made headlines when protesters sprayed tourists with water pistols. In 2025, a group of activists in Malorca wrote an open letter urging travelers not to visit the island during their peak summer months.
There are similarities between Mexico and Europe, but the locals in Mexico City view gentlemanship as the main issue, rather than tourism. That is, residents are being pushed out of their neighborhoods to create rooms for the wealthy residents.
“Tourism also helps raise prices in certain regions, but gentrification agents such as digital nomads and global North expatriates create bigger and more lasting issues,” says a spokesman who wishes to pass through Luna and remain anonymous for safety reasons. Luna works for the Frente Antigentrificación MX, a local group that organized one of the marches in the Mexican capital. “They arrive in the city with more rights and privileges than locals. They can buy property, afford higher rents in the city’s best parts of the city, and can drive the most vulnerable population to their margins.”
Luna says tourism is an important part of the country’s economy. But without the right policies and laws, it can also serve as a gateway to gentlemanship. President Claudia Sinbaum has expressed her desire to turn Mexico into the world’s fifth most visited country, urging activists and residents to minimize the impact and make tourism more responsible for government agents, foreign visitors and even local businesses.
“Without price increases or no restrictions on businesses like Airbnb, the whole neighborhood can be transformed into spaces accessible to the wealthy,” says Luna. “It’s true that foreigners are part of the problem, but they are primarily not responsible. It’s up to the government to regulate this phenomenon and protect the local people.”
What’s happening to the residents of Mexico City?
“After lockdown, the neighborhood began to change,” says Angelica Urialte, a local who has been relegated to the gentlemanship of Mexico City. In 2023, Uriarte rented a three-bedroom apartment in Colonia Juarez, a desirable neighborhood in Central Mexico City (Condesa, Rome and Bosque de Chapultepec in Main City Park), when he asked her landlord and other residents of the building to move, next to Condesa. “He said the building is no longer safe, but now they’re renovating it and they’re advertising the apartment for twice the original price,” she says.
Uriarte is one of many with similar stories. According to the General Programme 2020-2035 of the Territory Order Project, an urban development report that supports land management in the capital, the rise in rents and housing prices has driven over 20,000 low-income households out of the city each year. Over the past four years, some wards in registered rent for capital have increased by up to 20%. According to the Mexican Real Estate Professionals Association, Mexico City reports that the average monthly cost is around 1,306.44 (24,625 mxn), compared to the average monthly cost of around 1,253.19 (23,620.75 mxn).
Uriarte believes that local governments are not sufficient to support their residents, and according to international law, they prioritize profits and foreign investment over housing, a human right. “They said they’re working on affordable apartments for young people, but that’s hardly going to hurt the surface of the problem,” she says. “People don’t want to get a house for free. They want the rights law that allows them to afford a place to live.”
In response to the concerns and protests of citizens around the capital, Clara Bulgada (essentially mayor) of the Mexico City government, has launched initiative Bando 1, a strategy that aims to control rental prices, prevent people from evictions, and regulate Airbnb stays and other short-term rentals. However, according to both Urialte and Luna, no concrete actions have occurred, so the effectiveness of the initiative has yet to be seen.
How to Become a More Responsible Traveler in Mexico City
To prevent cultural erosion, particularly in the Mexican City areas such as Romanolte, Condesa and Polanco, they are flooded with foreigners, leaving cookie cutter companies with loss of local flavour, but tourists can make decisions that prioritize the community. If you want to take part in a more sustainable type of tourism, follow these tips:
- I’ll stay at the hotel instead of a vacation rental.
Short-term vacation rentals can be cost-effective for tourists, but they also reduce long-term housing availability for residents. Choosing a small, sustainable hotel helps to prioritize community well-being and respect the integrity of your neighborhood. - Shop and eat locals.
By choosing a small, family-owned business, money can remain in the community instead of getting into the pockets of large international businesses. This not only boosts the local economy by creating more jobs, but also provides a more authentic experience when engaging with residents and forming real connections. - Learn about local culture and traditions.
Instead of replicating patterns and behaviors from your home country, try to immerse yourself in the culture of the city you are staying in and maintain that identity. Educate yourself about the habits and values around you, and try to participate in a way that is not respectful and not someone. Frente AntiGentrificación MX suggests learning some basic Spanish and phrases, whether for a while, or for a long time or for a permanent stay. - Travel slowly during the offseason.
It’s appealing to want to cross as many countries as possible from the bucket list, but it’s important to remember that slow travel is better for the environment and local economy of the place you are visiting. Traveling during the offseason will help you provide more consistent income for businesses all year round, and prices tend to be lower for you.
