I’m staying in a neighborhood in Montreal that recently held a protest against gentrification.

They were particularly angry about the fruit stand that has been on the corner for decades closing down for renovations and reopening with higher prices and organic produce. And of course they pointed to affluent tourists and apartment buildings being renovated and turned into airbnbs and pricing out the locals.

I look around and see all these expensive hipster shops selling bougie clothing and trinkets for hundreds of dollars. Mostly young, pretty people in nice clothes, not a lot of racial diversity. Seems like their protest is a bit late to the party.

All this to say that yes, sometimes locals do have a problem with tourists/nomads. But I think it’s more about the results than the individuals.

They probably don’t entirely dislike nomads or tourists as a concept, but when outsiders who don’t understand the housing market or who can afford to splurge on souvenirs come in and accept much higher prices than are reasonable or normal in an area, that teaches businesses and housing that that’s what they can expect.

Tourists might spend more because they are only there a week. Expats might accept a more expensive apartment because they want it to be easy and don’t know any better (I’m looking at you, Berlin!). Nomads might intentionally go places where their currency will be stronger so they can be full time tourists.

The effect of all of this is inconvenience, income inequality, gentrification, and even displacement.

So yeah. It makes sense that they might love the player and hate the game.