As distant work within the age of COVID-19 is forecast to remain for a lot of People, an increasing number of professionals are selecting new locations to dwell. Recently, extra People have been selecting to dwell in Mexico, together with Mexico Metropolis.
It has turn into a high vacation spot for younger professionals working remotely, CBS Information correspondent Enrique Acevedo experiences.
"Now now we have youthful People that may work remotely on the lookout for a greater high quality of life ... they usually're coming now to Mexico Metropolis," stated Alexandra Demou, founding father of a relocation and actual property firm known as Welcome House Mexico.
"They love the local weather," she stated. "They love the folks, the tradition, the meals, the sweetness."
"Sure, in fact, security could be a problem. ... And after I say high quality of life, I imply in fact, we will not keep away from the truth that your greenback goes a good distance in Mexico," she added.
In response to knowledge from the U.S. Division of State, there are over 1.6 million U.S. residents dwelling in Mexico, however that quantity solely contains individuals who have utilized for authorized residency, which some distant staff don't do.
Mexico Metropolis's tourism company stated greater than 1.9 million foreigners arrived on the capital metropolis's worldwide airport throughout simply the primary half of this yr. They spent nearly $2 billion in lodge stays there.
International head of internet hosting for Airbnb, Catherine Powell, stated the corporate has seen "unimaginable progress" in long-term stays, that are journeys which can be 28 days or longer. One in 5 of the nights booked in Mexico, she stated, are for long-term journeys.
Nevertheless, Powell did word that "Mexico has at all times been an necessary vacation spot for U.S. vacationers."
John Hyatt, who works to assist U.S. and Canadian companies which can be at the moment manufacturing in China relocate to Mexico, stated he thinks know-how has made dwelling within the capital metropolis "a lot simpler."
"We speak about issues like rideshare apps, you already know, now we have all of that," he stated.
The inflow of American expats is remodeling a few of Mexico Metropolis's most conventional neighborhoods, just like the quiet and walkable neighborhood in Colonia Roma, the place hire has soared, there's bumper-to-bumper visitors and old-world allure is fading.
"Our cultures are form of merging in some ways," Hyatt stated. "Mexico is turning into extra Americanized, and america, People are taking much more curiosity within the Mexican tradition and delicacies."
Hyatt stated the pandemic "accelerated" a few of the modifications that Mexico Metropolis was already seeing, saying that "it was going to occur anyway."
"It simply threw some gasoline on the flames," he stated.
And whereas some locals welcome the brand new arrivals, tensions are rising over what some name gentrification.
Demou, whose firm works to assist expats turn into acclimated in Mexico, stated she thinks there are constructive and unfavorable features to the modifications.
"I believe that they drive economic system," she stated. "I believe folks will receives a commission increased salaries," she stated.
Demou talked about that her enterprise has been booming because the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and that it's exhibiting no indicators of slowing down.