Publication Details
Abstract
The article assesses the spatial targeting of state programmes for tourism infrastructure development in the Jizzakh region against inter-district disparities in services. Under Presidential Resolutions PQ-35 and PQ-161 (2026), tourism projects are concentrated in selected districts, yet their effect on territorial gaps has not been evaluated. The aim is to determine how far programme measures match district development needs. Using official data for 13 territorial units over 2019–2025 and the first half of 2026, the study applies the Gini and Theil indices, σ- and β-convergence, a programme coverage index developed by the authors and Spearman rank correlation. The results show that disparities in per capita services widened: the Gini coefficient rose from 0.269 to 0.330, and no β-convergence was found. No association was observed between programme coverage and the relative development level of districts (ρ = 0.03), while the lagging and slowest-growing districts, Yangiobod, Zarbdor and Mirzachul, remained outside tourism measures. In the first half of 2026, services in programme districts grew by 48.4% in aggregate against 36.3% in other districts excluding Jizzakh city, but the medians were almost equal, so the gap is treated only as an early signal. The findings support need-based project selection criteria and district-level tourism statistics.