Population Decline through Tourism Gentrification Caused by Accommodation in Kyoto City

Tourism gentrification, driven by the proliferation of simple accommodations, has significantly contributed to population decline in Kyoto's historical center. This study reveals a clear statistical relationship between the location of such accommodations and demographic shifts at the neighborhood level. Using geographic natural experiments, researchers found that areas with increased simple accommodation saw more pronounced population decreases compared to those without, indicating that tourism gentrification is reshaping urban demographics beyond just economic changes. The findings also suggest that these trends extend beyond Kyoto's core, potentially altering the city's long-term residential landscape. This research underscores the need for targeted urban policies to regulate zoning for accommodations and mitigate the social impacts of tourism growth.

Kato, H., & Takizawa, A. (2022). Population Decline through Tourism Gentrification Caused by Accommodation in Kyoto City. Sustainability, 14(18), 11736. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811736