Socio-Economic Impact and Policy Strategies for Sustainable Regional Tourism Development in Uzbekistan
Abstract
This study examines socio economic impacts of regional tourism in Uzbekistan, and investigates the role of factors governing tourism development including infrastructure, competitiveness, government policy, as well as sustainable practices in the economy. Using 1995 to 2023 data, this research examines the role of tourism in shaping Uzbekistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and important drivers including tourist arrivals, government spending, and human capital. Results suggest that although tourism offers a wide scope for regional economy development there are challenges in aspects of infrastructure, policy coherence and resource sustainability. Finally, the study points out specific strategies to address these challenges such as making rural competitiveness, integrating renewable energy and exploiting niche tourism sectors like agri tourism. They provide policy implications that clearly emphasize the need for developing tourism in Uzbekistan in a manner that satisfies the country’s own exceptional cultural and natural resources and maximizes tourism’s economic benefits. By providing evidence based recommendations concerning how tourism can be used as a sustainable driver of regional socio economic growth, this research closes a gaping hole in our understanding of the dynamic workings of Uzbekistan's tourism sector.
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