Perubahan reruang akibat pelancongan di Kampung Jeron Beteng Yogyakarta 1950-2010

Spatial changes can result in the saturation of tourist destinations. This study aims to trace the spatial transformation process of a tourist destination Kampung Jeron Beteng (KJB) Yogjakarta, from its inception in the 1950s to the present era. Tourism activities in a Kraton-centered cultural heritage are examined, paying attention to the carrying capacity of the destination with respect to population density and demand for build-up spaces. Tourist arrivals began to decline in 1993 and has since continued to dwindle. The village with 140 hectares has witnessed an implosion of population and buildings, so that living spaces have been reduced; and the situation has become uncomfortable. The research adopts a historical approach in combination with qualitative methods in the collection of data. The coverage of a 60-year period is divided into six decade- long phases. These phases are discussed within the framework of Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle model which posits a sequential growth of tourism activities, resulting inter alia in spatial changes in the distribution of housing and public spaces occurring in such ways that benefited tourism activities while encouraging growth. Such growth led to increase in building which eventually exceeded the limits of village carrying capacity. Although spatial adjustments can still accommodate the saturation to a limited extent, the long term challenge is to revitalize the village as a destination so that it will continue to become attractive to visitors. Effort towards the preservation of cultural heritage must ensure that: firstly, 40 percent of the maximum building density and population density of 100 people per hectare is maintained; secondly, the laws of the Kraton and the local customs must be observed; thirdly, the government policies should always involve the local community in decision making. Finally this study offers pointers for future host community development in KJB and in other tourism destinations which share similar characteristics, especially in villages with kraton complexes close to other heritage destinations in Java. Conceptually this study shows that the evolution of a destination can be affected by local cultural and institutional practices which are not given due consideration in Butler’s widely publicised TALC model.