In this seventh installment of our ongoing exploration into the intricate dynamics of gentrification and its political dimensions, we venture into the realm of urban development within the Global South. The challenges presented by significant economic disparities, diverse income levels coexisting within single cities, and the resultant impact on gentrification cannot be understated. Our quest is to dissect the profound influence of tourism on this phenomenon and to understand how it intertwines with property development and urban planning.
According to Horn & Visser (2023), gentrification in the Global South emerges as a consequence of developing countries' relentless pursuit of rapid economic growth. This pursuit is often driven by the imperative to keep pace with the ever-modernizing realities seen in developed countries. As these governments increasingly adopt market-based policies, they inadvertently sow the seeds of gentrification, as expounded by Cocola-Gant (2018).
Drawing insights from the book chapter "The chaos and complexity of gentrification" by Robert Beauregard, we recognize that the chaos and complexity of gentrification are not confined to the Global North. Beauregard's exploration of gentrification processes and potential gentrifiers resonates with the dynamics in the Global South, where economic shifts and urban restructuring play a pivotal role.
In the context of high inequality and rapid urbanization, coupled with the need for improved local economic development strategies, tourism, particularly tourist accommodation, has emerged as a viable solution. It enables developing countries to stimulate concentrated economic activity without necessitating highly educated labor or extensive investments in economic infrastructure.
Ghertner (2015) and Sigler and Wachsmuth (2020) argue that state-led initiatives for tourism cause transformation in the urban fabric of small and large cities alike. Even well-established upper-middle-class neighborhoods are not immune to this gentrification wave. Pinkster and Boterman (2017) shed light on how these neighborhoods are selected for their specific aesthetic and appeal, often resulting in a ruptured relationship between residents and their beloved community as local governments look to court transnational real estate investment, aiming to enhance the high-end experience these neighborhoods offer.
This confluence of private capital and state intervention in the context of tourism has generated gentrification in various places around the globe (Cocola-Gant, 2018).
in our book, Beauregard's examination of the potential gentrifiers and the restructuring of urban space finds resonance in the discussion on how state-led initiatives and private capital interplay in the context of tourism-induced gentrification. The chaos and complexity observed by Beauregard extend beyond the traditional boundaries, reaching into the Global South where economic development and urban restructuring are entangled in the gentrification process.
The new battlefront:
As we've previously established in this blog, investment in a region's economic infrastructure, in this case the tourism sector, invariably leads to an increase in property values over time. A fundamental catalyst as we know this rise in property values often marks the initial symptom of gentrification. In this evolving landscape, the symptoms extend to the gentrification of consumption hotspots such as culturally rich areas, local shopping centers, and community facilities, as expounded by Horn and Visser (2023). This transformation eventually leads to the ascendance of class, eventually sparking demographic changes as exclusivity becomes a sought-after feature.
As we have previously delved into in blog post #1, urban development in the 21st century has been significantly influenced by neoliberal policies. This transition has given rise to individualism and entrepreneurialism within the public sector. State agencies and private companies have spawned semi-independent public organizations, and public-private partnerships share responsibility and risk in executing public projects. This diversification of role players in public development has facilitated the rise of consumerism and opened the door for various actors in the property market to assume positions of power in the short and long term. While the primary goal for many local governments was to enhance local attractiveness in cities to boost tourism, it may have unintentionally contributed to gentrification and displacement (Cocola-Gant & Lopez-Gay, 2020).
in the book, Peter Williams' exploration of gentrification as class constitution is relevant here. The ascendance of class, the gentrification of consumption hotspots, and the unintentional consequences on local communities echo Williams' insights into the reconceptualization of the gentrification process and its role in class constitution.
In conclusion, the nexus of tourism, property development, and urban planning in the Global South unveils a complex landscape in which gentrification thrives. It is essential for urban planners to critically analyze the interplay of state-led initiatives, private capital, and the consequences of these developments on local communities.
References:
Smith, N. and Williams, P. eds., 2013. Gentrification of the City. Routledge.
Cocola-Gant, A. and Lopez-Gay, A., 2020. Transnational gentrification, tourism, and the formation of 'foreign-only' enclaves in Barcelona. Urban Studies, 57(15), pp.3025-3043.
Horn, A. and Visser, G., 2023. Tourism Gentrification in Urban Africa: Towards a Research Agenda. Studia Periegetica, 43(3), pp.7-24.
Cocola Gant, A., 2018. Struggling with the leisure class: Tourism, gentrification, and displacement (Doctoral dissertation, Cardiff University).
Sigler, T. and Wachsmuth, D., 2020. New directions in transnational gentrification: Tourism-led, state-led, and lifestyle-led urban transformations. Urban Studies, 57(15), pp.3190-3201.
Ghertner, D.A., 2015. Why gentrification theory fails in 'much of the world'. City, 19(4), pp.552-563.
Which 'scholastic accounts' - Reference them.
Literature on the topic - What literature? Reference it.
It is always a very good writing convention to refer to previous work - Good.