Abstract
This study aims to examine the economic behavior of the community around Dhoho Airport, Kediri, which has undergone socio-economic transformation due to strategic infrastructure development. This phenomenon is evident in Kediri Regency, East Java, especially after the start of the construction of Dhoho Airport, a national strategic project designed to be a lever for regional economic growth. The presence of the airport has changed the face of the surrounding area, which was previously agricultural land and modest settlements, into a bustling and fast-growing economic area. This change has led to a surge in new economic activities, such as the emergence of street vendors, restaurants, parking lots, local transportation businesses, and lodging. Using a qualitative approach with phenomenological methods, this study explores the meanings raised by local economic actors in responding to these changes. The findings show that communities show adaptive responses through trade, lodging, and other services, with economic meanings influenced by local values such as blessing, hard work, and kinship. This study concludes that people's economic behavior is not only rational instrumental, but also full of subjective values and meanings, so that regional economic policies need to be designed in an inclusive and contextual manner
