The protests, mostly peaceful, have included marches, public gatherings, and symbolic actions such as placing signs in English urging visitors to be respectful and mindful of their impact. However, recent expressions of frustration have escalated in intensity, including acts of vandalism against tourism-related businesses and graffiti on public buildings. This shift is raising concerns among both authorities and civic organizations, who worry that legitimate grievances could give way to confrontations or the stigmatization of tourists and foreign residents alike.
At the core of the discontent lies a shared feeling among many locals: that they are being displaced or rendered invisible in their own neighborhoods. The explosion of short-term rental offerings through digital platforms has drastically reduced the supply of affordable housing, driving up prices and making it nearly impossible for many young people and middle-class families to continue living in the areas where they grew up. This trend is far from unique to Mexico City—it echoes in major cities around the world like Barcelona, Lisbon, and Amsterdam, where grassroots movements are also demanding stricter regulations to combat overtourism.
The government of Mexico City has acknowledged the issue and begun taking steps to regulate the use of housing as temporary rentals, while also promoting campaigns for more responsible and community-conscious tourism. Still, many activists consider these measures insufficient, calling instead for a deeper rethinking of the tourism model—one that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and citizen participation in decision-making processes.
Tourism industry associations, for their part, highlight the many benefits the sector brings to the city, including investment, job creation, and international exposure. However, they also recognize that growth must be accompanied by social and urban responsibility, and that building bridges of dialogue with local communities is essential to avoid further polarization.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to grow, fueled by the stark contrast between the luxury and excitement experienced by some visitors, and the displacement or precariousness endured by many residents. In a context where cities are striving to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, Mexico City now faces the challenge of balancing its tourism potential with its residents’ right to the city. The solution does not lie in rejecting visitors, but rather in redesigning policies that harmonize the interests of those who come with the rights of those who stay.
Mexico City’s case has become a symbol of the broader dilemmas facing global urban destinations today: how to grow without erasing local identity, how to welcome without displacing, how to share without imposing. The voices rising in its streets are not only speaking about tourism—they are calling for dignity, urban justice, and the right not to feel like a stranger in one’s own city.
