Aerotropolis, economic development, and agriculture synergy: International airports' influence on regional growth and SDG achievement

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aerotropolis concept has been increasingly recognized as a driver of regional economic development. However, its impact on social, agricultural, and environmental factors remained underexplored, particularly in regions surrounding newly developed international airports. This study analyzed the influence of the aerotropolis concept, which was reviewed from a regional, social, agricultural, and environmental perspective, on the economy of the Yogyakarta International Airport area.METHODS: This study examined 10 districts and cities around Yogyakarta International Airport from 2017 to 2023. The data were analyzed using panel data regression and spatial analysis with Geo-Map Orange Data Mining. The aerotropolis concept was adopted to understand the interaction between these factors in the region's economic development around Yogyakarta International Airport.FINDINGS: The results revealed that all variables significantly influenced GRDP (p < 0.01). A 1% increase in average schooling raised GRDP by 3.23%, population by 1.63%, and agricultural land by 0.70%. Meanwhile, a 1% increase in distance from YIA reduced GRDP by 0.69%, confirming spatial proximity's economic advantage.CONCLUSION: Implementing the aerotropolis concept in the area around Yogyakarta International Airport created a synergy between education, demographics, and the agricultural sector, which supported dynamic and sustainable economic growth overall.