Urban Spatial Transformation and Residential Displacement Induced by Gentrification in the Malioboro Tourism Area of Yogyakarta

Abstract

Urban tourism development has significantly reshaped the spatial and social structure of historic urban areas. This study aims to analyze urban spatial transformation and residential displacement induced by gentrification in the Malioboro tourism area of Yogyakarta. This research employed a qualitative descriptive approach to explore changes in spatial functions, economic pressures, and their impacts on local communities. Data were collected through field observations and semi-structured interviews with selected informants representing tourism workers, local entrepreneurs, and community members. Data validity was ensured through source and observation triangulation, while data analysis followed the interactive model of Miles and Huberman. The findings reveal that tourism expansion has accelerated the conversion of residential spaces into tourism-oriented commercial functions, including hotels, restaurants, and retail facilities. Increasing land values, rental costs, and living expenses have created economic pressures that gradually encourage local residents to leave the area. Unlike direct eviction, displacement occurs through market mechanisms that reduce local access to housing and transform community spaces into commercial zones. Furthermore, the transformation has affected social relationships by weakening traditional neighborhood interactions and altering the cultural identity of Malioboro. Although tourism provides economic opportunities for some local actors, the benefits remain uneven due to competition with larger investors.This study concludes that tourism-driven gentrification in Malioboro represents a complex interaction between economic growth, spatial restructuring, and social sustainability challenges. Inclusive urban planning strategies are needed to balance tourism development with housing protection and the preservation of local community identity.