TOURISM, GENTRIFICATION AND PRESSURE OF DISPLACEMENT IN THE CONCEPCION AND ALEGRE HILLS OF VALPARAISO

The historic areas of Latin American cities have seen a process of urban transformation. In the case of Valparaiso selective urban renovation in urban heritage areas such as the Concepcion and Alegre hills driven by the tourist and real estate industries and promoted by the state through programmes and subsidies. From such interventions large homes changed from residential to tourist use, becoming hotels, restaurants, handicraft stores, gradually transforming residential neighbourhoods into enclaves for tourism. This paper seeks to understand how inhabitants have experienced these changes and what it means for them. Through sixty interviews with residents of the Concepcion and Alegre hills, the impact of tourism and real estate transformations on the quality of life of inhabitants is analyzed. The results show an urban and social reconversion that has valorized their homes and improved equipment and urban services in these sectors, while discontent over the loss of neighborhood life and forms of vulnerability of historical residents with economic difficulties to conserve and maintain their homes