Mexico's president calls march against mass tourism 'xenophobic.' Critics blame government failures
Source: Associated Press
Mexico’s president calls march against mass tourism ‘xenophobic.’ Critics blame government failures
By MEGAN JANETSKY and MARÍA VERZA
Updated 12:51 AM EDT, July 8, 2025
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A fierce protest in Mexico City railing against gentrification and mass tourism was fueled by government failures and active promotion to attract digital nomads, according to experts, who said tension had been mounting for years.
The criticism comes after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum alleged that Friday’s protest was marked by xenophobia, reviving a debate over an influx of Americans in the city.
Many Mexicans say they’ve been priced out of their neighborhoods — in part because of a move made by Sheinbaum in 2022, when she was the Mexico City mayor and signed an agreement with Airbnb and UNESCO to boost tourism and attract digital nomads despite concern over the impact short-term rentals could have.
‘Gringo: Stop stealing our home’
On Friday, that came to a head. A largely peaceful protest of hundreds of demonstrators marched through tourism centers of the city with signs reading “Gringo: Stop stealing our home” and “Housing regulations now!”
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/mexico-tourism-gentrification-xenophobia-airbnb-digital-nomads-3139c76f7253acec8dddca372ae66e89