The influx of digital nomads to some areas of Mexico City has sparked a fierce backlash from residents, although local authorities are encouraging more foreigners—mostly Americans—to come and base themselves in the in the capital.
Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum recently signed a deal with Airbnb to promote a new informational website that the company says “showcases unique cultural and creative destinations and experiences” in the capital. The site shows examples of extended-stay rentals, entry requirements, and visa policies, and highlights experiences that remote workers could participate in to understand the city better.
Sheinbaum said she believes the partnership with Airbnb will help promote other areas of the capital away from the more popular neighborhoods such as Condesa and Roma.
Many residents of these two colonias have taken to social media to express their anger at the impact the influx of digital nomads is having on rents. One report suggests that apartment rents rose by 32 percent between January and June in the upmarket Condesa neighborhood.
Activists critical of Sheinbaum’s move to team up with Airbnb point to other cities such as Barcelona, Paris, Berlin and New York that have been forced to take measures to ensure locals are not priced out of the rental market.