This thesis explores how to ensure local social and cultural values are being kept and advanced by utilising glocalization as a mediating tool for tourism gentrification while maintaining the overall tourism economy.

Tourism economies are portrayed to be beneficial and profitable to indigenous people residing in cities. However, oversight for the long haul that focuses more on keeping up with globalisation may lead to issues on the displacement of local communities and cultural dilution. Thus, the phenomenon of gentrification inevitably contributes to the physical, social and cultural degradation of a city.

Situated in Yogyakarta City, its art and cultural significance contributes to the city’s identity through tourism which remains instrumental to the economy. Modernisation and globalisation efforts to keep up with rising demands poses a question to the upkeep and advancement of the city’s original culture and communities. Here, the resulting gentrification is evidently seen as having irrevocably deteriorated the presence of local people and folklore.

Glocal City seeks to balance the relationship between globalisation and localisation in order to keep the city alive and relevant in the 21st Century by helping tourism reach a larger pool of audience and economic gain while safekeep authenticity and uniqueness of the city. It focuses on reshaping tourism not just as an alternative source of revenue, but also to enhance the authentic sociocultural values seen in the city, by updating traditions with modern solutions. It is also to capitalise on the already thriving sector and expand opportunities for local people and culture to take part and participate in building their economy.

To demonstrate the concept of glocalisation, the manifestation is inspired by batik patterns and the complex process of making batik art on site. Antithetical to the norm of success as being commeasurable with global standards, this thesis imagines tourist destinations to be enwrapped by architecture and activities that speak tacitly and is an overflow from the city’s local culture and humble way of life.