ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF TOURISM RESOURCE UTILIZATION ON SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article assesses how tourism-resource utilization contributes to sustainable regional development in Uzbekistan. The analysis is based on official 2021–2025 data from the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the SIAT database, covering foreign tourist trips, tourism service exports and total market services. Tourism Resource Utilization Efficiency (TRUE) is measured as tourism service export value generated per foreign tourist trip. The indicator increased from approximately USD 224 in 2021 to USD 418 in 2025, while tourist trips increased from 1.881 million to 11.680 million and tourism service exports from USD 422.1 million to USD 4.880 billion. During the same period, the volume of market services increased from UZS 389.4 trillion to UZS 1,050.3 trillion. The paper proposes a Tourism Resource Utilization–Regional Development Impact Model linking tourism resources, utilization capacity, value creation, service-sector transmission and sustainable regional development. A baseline trend forecast suggests that by 2030 foreign tourist trips may reach approximately 22.3 million, tourism service exports USD 10.1 billion and market services about UZS 1,847.5 trillion. The findings indicate that regional policy should assess tourism not only through visitor numbers, but through the value and service-sector effects generated from available tourism resources.