Mexico City Airbnb agreement led years later to ferocious demonstrations against “digital nomads”
The government of Mexico City announced on Wednesday a preliminary plan to deal with gentrification, a week after a fierce protest against the increase in housing prices, certain links with mass tourism and an increase in foreigners often called “digital nomads” who temporarily live in the capital.
The mayor of Mexico City, Clara Brugada said that the plan will include regulations so that the owners cannot increase rents over inflation. The authorities will also share a list of “reasonable rental” proposals.
Brugada said his government will open a discussion with residents of the capital of Mexico in terms of plan, but that the idea is to work on a bill which includes measures to promote affordable rent.
The demonstration in early July was fueled by government failures and active promotion to attract digital nomads that often work remotely for Mexico City Foreign Companies, according to experts. Hundreds of people paraded in working -class neighborhoods with tourists, but the demonstration became violent when a small number of people began to break the windows and harass foreigners.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said the demonstration was marked by xenophobia.
“The xenophobic displays observed during this demonstration must be condemned. No one should be able to say” any nationality getting out of our country “even on a legitimate problem such as gentrification,” said Sheinbaum at the time.
Many Mexicans have complained to have a price outside their neighborhoods – partly because of a decision made by Sheinbaum in 2022, when she was mayor of Mexico City and signed an agreement with Airbnb and UNESCO to stimulate tourism and attract digital nomads despite the concerns about the impact of short -term rentals.
During the demonstration, some people walked with signs reading “Gringo: stop flying our house” and “Housing regulations now!”
Certain anti-fatrification groups have called for a new protest this weekend.
