THE ROLE OF ECOTOURISM IN ENHANCING REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

This article investigates the role of ecotourism as a strategic lever for regional development and environmental sustainability in Uzbekistan. It addresses three questions: (i) how ecotourism contributes to local economic outcomes and livelihood diversification; (ii) which environmental co-benefits it generates; and (iii) which institutional and market barriers constrain its scaling. Methodologically, the study adopts a mixed-methods design combining descriptive and inferential statistics on tourism indicators (2015–2024) with comparative case evidence from key destinations (Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve, Boysun, Ugam-Chatkal). Data sources include national statistics, policy documents, and international reports. We operationalize regional development via employment, household income from nature-based services, SME formation, and seasonality reduction; environmental performance is captured through proxies of biodiversity conservation efforts, waste management uptake, and low-carbon infrastructure diffusion. Findings indicate that the share of ecological destinations within domestic tourism portfolios has grown steadily, accompanied by measurable local income effects (guesthouse and guiding revenues, women’s employment in crafts and hospitality) and emerging green practices (solar adoption in eco-lodges, trail maintenance, habitat restoration). Nonetheless, fragmented regulation, uneven transport and digital connectivity, skills gaps in eco-management, limited destination branding, and weak monitoring systems impede further progress. The paper argues for an integrated policy package – standards for eco-operations, targeted infrastructure finance, competency-based training, digital market access, and community-based governance – to anchor ecotourism within regional development strategies while safeguarding ecological integrity. Originality lies in aligning an outcomes-oriented regional lens with sustainability metrics to propose a pragmatic roadmap for scaling ecotourism in Uzbekistan in line with SDG-linked green growth objectives.