Mapping of Re-Assessing Gentrification Process Post-Pandemic COVID-19 in the Old Town Semarang, Indonesia

Abstract

The revitalization of The Semarang Old Town revived this area as a tourist destination and generated regional economic growth. Several new restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, and other economic activities emerge along with tourism development. Job vacancies were offered and attracted newcomers to work as well as to invest. Consequently, properties that previously had no economic value became a potential asset, increasing land prices and building rental prices significantly. Hence, gentrification becomes an inevitable phenomenon. Local communities previously inhabited vacant buildings for years were displaced because the buildings would be restored and then rented out. However, these situations changed after the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, that many restrictions on community activities, including tourism. Visitors' numbers decrease drastically, making many businesses in the Old Town suffer losses. It pointed by several coffee shops and restaurants closed, or they did not extend the rents. In contrast, the number of informal sectors which restricted surged in line with many work terminations. Hence, this study aims to re-assess the gentrification process along with the socio-economic changes after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study used a quantitative method by applying the spatial analysis method, which compares aspects such as physical transformation, space use, land prices, rent prices, land ownership, and population growth before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.