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The relationship between gastronomy tourism and urban/rural transformations has become a planetary phenomenon, mostly studied within the circles of sustainable tourism (Crespi-Vallbona, et. al., 2017; Gezici, 2006), urban geography (Kowalczyk & Derek, 2020), planning and city branding (Booysen and du Rand, 2019; Deffner, et. al., 2019) particularly at the intersection of deepening gentrification, and exacerbated socio-spatial inequalities. The ways in which gastronomy tourism influences gentrification and reverse migration in peri-urban geographies—spaces blending urban and rural characteristics—remain underexplored. This study critically elaborates the mutually constitutive relations amongst gastronomy tourism, gentrification, and reverse migration, by concentrating on the peri-urban geographical context of Urla, Turkiye, as a case study.
Urla district, in the Aegean metropolitan city of Izmir, has undergone significant socio-spatial and socio-economic transformations in the last two decades, driven by the concomitant rise of gastronomy tourism, reverse migration and property-led gentrification. Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury wineries, countryside hotels and gated-luxury villas have emerged as both the symbolic and material spatial reflections of this change. We argue that there is a deep rooted and constitutive relation amongst gastronomy tourism, gentrification and peri-urban geographical transformation, that is defined as “gastro-driven gentrification” in our study, a phenomenon in which gastronomy tourism becomes a catalyst for gentrification processes, reshaping extended urban geographies at planetary scale. Reverse migration fuels these dramatic processes, stimulating the gentrified peri-urban transformations, introducing new socio-economic dynamics and further complicating the forms of socio-spatial injustices.
Through elaborating a critical cultural political economy perspective, the research investigates whether gastronomy tourism acts as a driver of gentrification and reverse migration in Urla and explores how these intricated, and mutually constitutive processes transform peri-urban geography. The study draws on mixed-methods research, including qualitative approaches such as in-depth interviews with local stakeholders (residents, policymakers, and business owners), participant observations, and content analysis of the related media materials. Quantitative methods include spatial analysis of land use changes, demographic shifts, and economic data related to the rise of gastronomy tourism in Urla. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic and spatial dimensions of gastro-driven gentrification.
Preliminary findings indicate that gastronomy tourism has skyrocketed property values, triggered cultural commodification, and the displacement of long-term residents, dramatically transforming the socio-cultural fabric of Urla. Reverse migration has further intensified and fueled these changes, as affluent urban residents seeking lifestyle migration often prioritize the consumption-oriented amenities introduced by gastronomy tourism over the preservation of local identity and practices. The peri-urban geography has also significantly changed within this transformation process. While these developments generate economic development and brand recognition for Urla, they also highlight critical tensions between tourism-driven development, socio-spatial injustice, and environmental sustainability.
The findings of research have potentials to make contributions in understanding the socio-spatial implications of gastronomy tourism within the broader framework of peri-urban transformations. Locating Urla’s transformation within the context of planetary crises and unsustainable tourism development, the study will also provide a ground to key debates on how sustainable forms of tourism could become a locomotive in climate resilient, environmentally sustainable, and socio-spatially just cities (Gezici & Salihoğlu, 2016). By addressing these issues, the study provides insights into how gastronomy tourism impacts peri-urban transformations and highlights the potential of place-based planning practices to mitigate the negative impacts of unsustainable tourism. It emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism planning to prioritize environmental sustainability, cultural authenticity, and socio-spatial justice, offering lessons that extend beyond Urla to other peri-urban regions facing similar challenges.
References
Booysen, I. and du Rand, G.E. (2019) ‘Culinary mapping: a gastronomic tourism planning tool’, in Dixit, S.K. (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Gastronomic Tourism. New York: Routledge, pp. 330–344.
Crespi-Vallbona, M., Pérez, M.D. and Miró, O.M. (2017) 'Urban food markets and their sustainability: the compatibility of traditional and tourist uses', Current Issues in Tourism, 22(14), pp. 1723–1743. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2017.1401983.
Deffner, A., Karachalis, N., Psatha, E., Metaxas, T. and Sirakoulis, K. (2019) ‘City marketing and planning in two Greek cities: plurality or constraints?’, European Planning Studies, 28(7), pp. 1333–1354.
Gezici, F. (2006) ‘Components of sustainability: Two cases from Turkey’, Annals of Tourism Research, 3(2), pp. 442–455.
Gezici, F. and Salihoğlu, G. (2016) ‘The challenges on sustainability of alternative forms of tourism’, in Egresi, I. (ed.) Alternative Tourism in Turkey. GeoJournal Library, vol. 121. Cham: Springer.
Kowalczyk, A. and Derek, M. (2020) ‘Preface: The Essence of Gastronomy in Urban Context’, in Kowalczyk, A. and Derek, M. (eds) Gastronomy and Urban Space. The Urban Book Series. Cham: Springer, pp. vii–xxii.
| Keywords | Gastronomy Tourism; Gastro-Driven Gentrification; Reverse Migration; Peri-Urban Transformation; Urla Izmir |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
