AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightOn the other hand, replacement of theagricultural sector by the service sector and change in land use createspost-productive landscape in North Aegean Countryside.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
This article examines rural gentrification as experienced on the NorthAegean coasts of Turkey. The study area chosen is the closest Aegeancoast to İstanbul and it attracts attention because of its archeological andmythological values, as well as its natural beauty and vernacularlandscape. The most important element determining the rural landscapeof the region is olive production. The study is based principally on indepthinterviews with village mukhtars, local people, newcomers,tourism entrepreneurs, and professionals.While the rural gentrification process in Turkey, a Mediterraneancountry, shows similarities with the gentrification process in rural areasof developed Western countries, differences can be observed as well.Depopulation in rural areas since 1950s and development of tourism incoastal areas after 1980 has brought about the investmentdisinvestmentcycle, which is in the rural gentrification theory. It hasbeen observed that in the rural area where tourism facilities have beenimproved, gentrification occurs in parallel. The migration of middle classto the villages has transformed the traditional land use and rural landscape. The newcomers, who are well educated and having aprofession, use the houses in the villages as summerhouses. While stonehouses unique to the region are purchased and restored, buildings usedfor agricultural production are transformed into summerhouses orbuildings used for tourism. The increase in the demand for new housingthreatens the olive groves and increasing real estate prices make itdifficult for local people to acquire property in the villages.Reinvestment, social class change and the process of displacement,pointed out in the literature on the rural gentrification, are also observedin the North Aegean countryside. However, the real estate market did notyet play a significant role in the rural gentrification in this area, unlike indeveloped Western countries. On the other hand, replacement of theagricultural sector by the service sector and change in land use createspost-productive landscape in North Aegean Countryside.