Connecting the dots: tourism, cultural change, gentrification, and policy in Southeast Asia

This paper examines tourism-led gentrification in Southeast Asia, interrogating its entanglement with cultural change, community dynamics, and policy frameworks. Grounded in Larsen’s (2008) theoretical perspectives on everyday life and culture, the study explores how tourism-driven processes reshape local cultures and communities. A systematic literature review of 15 case studies from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos identifies three key drivers of tourism-led gentrification: the designation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, state-led tourism policies, and sharing economy expansion. While these drivers generate economic benefits, they concurrently amplify local displacement and cultural erosion issues. The study also highlights the unique role of Southeast Asia’s patrimonialism in intensifying the negative outcomes of gentrification, a dimension often overlooked in existing literature. By foregrounding the cultural dimensions of tourism-led gentrification, this research challenges prevailing practices that prioritise economic and physical upgrades over community well-being. The paper calls for a regionally specific conceptualisation of gentrification that accounts for Southeast Asia’s socio-political and historical complexities. Ultimately, it contributes to the discourse on Asia-Pacific futures by advocating for policies that balance economic growth with cultural preservation and social equity.