Tourism-Led Rural Gentrification in Multi-Conservation Rural Settlements: Yazıköy/Datça Case

Abstract

Yazıköy, a rural settlement in southwestern Türkiye situated within overlapping cultural and natural protection zones, provides a critical case for analyzing the implications of heritage regulations on village life. This study examines how conservation policies shape livelihoods, land use practices, and community participation. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research draws on 114 household surveys and five semi-structured interviews conducted in 2024 with residents, local officials, and business owners. Findings show that heritage designation stimulates tourism, creating income and employment opportunities while simultaneously imposing regulatory constraints that delay infrastructure improvements and restrict new construction. Rising land values, the conversion of agricultural land for tourism-related uses, and the involvement of external investors illustrate the early stages of tourism-driven rural transformation. Moreover, age emerges as a critical determinant of participation: younger residents engage more actively with conservation and tourism initiatives, whereas older inhabitants experience barriers stemming from limited resources and access to information. Overall, conservation regimes safeguard cultural identity but constrain local agency. Reconciling protection imperatives with community-defined development requires inclusive planning and participatory governance. The Yazıköy case highlights how heritage policy, shaped by overlapping conservation regulations and tourism pressures, intersects with broader dynamics of rural gentrification, providing insights relevant to other rural heritage contexts.

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