Tourism-Oriented Spatial Analysis of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Bukhara (Uzbekistan)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23917/forgeo.v39i2.10235Keywords:
Cultural heritage, Spatial analysis, Sustainable tourism, Circular tourism, Kernel density estimation, Nearest neighbour analysis, Gini index, Moran’s IAbstract
This study examines the spatial distribution and tourism utilization of 829 officially registered architectural heritage sites in the Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Spatial analysis methods including the Gini Index (0.569), Lorenz Curve, Nearest Neighbor Analysis, Kernel Density Estimation, and Bivariate Moran’s I were applied to examine clustering patterns and disparities across districts. The findings reveal unequal heritage distribution: over 50% of the sites are located in two districts, mainly in the eastern region, while others remain underrepresented. The Bukhara city shows strong clustering, whereas several districts exhibit random or dispersed patterns. Despite a sharp rise in tourist arrivals from 13,300 international visitors in 2020 to over 1.7 million in 2024 only 146 sites (17.6%) are actively used for tourism. This increased tourism pressure, with visitors per site growing from 1,798 to 39,351. Typological analysis showed uneven spatial patterns among major religious, administrative, residential, and public groups. Bivariate Moran’s I (I = –0.0621, p = 0.498) indicated no significant spatial correlation between population density and heritage distribution. The study recommends adopting circular tourism strategies to reduce pressure, balance regional disparities, and promote sustainable heritage-based tourism development. Findings offer a basis for balanced heritage management and tourism development in Uzbekistan with comparable regions.
Downloads
References
AlMasri, R., & Ababneh, A. (2021). Heritage Management: Analytical Study of Tourism Impacts on the Archaeological Site of Umm Qais—Jordan. Heritage, 4(3), 2449-2469. doi: 10.3390/heritage4030138 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Axhami, M., Ndou, V., Milo, V., & Scorrano, P. (2023). Creating Value via the Circular Economy: Practices in the Tourism Sector. Administrative Sciences, 13(7), 166. doi: 10.3390/admsci13070166 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Bai, Q., Gao, M., Lyu, H., Zhang, L., & Zhang, J. (2024). Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Tangible Cultural Heritage in Henan Province, China: A Watershed Perspective. Sustainability, 16(20), 8979. doi: 10.3390/su16208979 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Barnes, S., J. (2022). Heritage protection and tourism income: the tourism heritage Kuznets curve. Tourism Review, 77(6), 1455-1471. doi: 10.1108/tr-03-2022-0125 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Bertocchi, D., & Visentin, F. (2019). “The Overwhelmed City”: Physical and Social Over-Capacities of Global Tourism in Venice. Sustainability, 11(24), 6937. doi : 10.3390/su11246937 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Biró, T. S., & Néda, Z. (2020). Gintropy: Gini Index Based Generalization of Entropy. Entropy, 22(8), 879. doi: 10.3390/e22080879 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Bonnier, A., Finné, M., & Weiberg, E. (2019). Examining Land-Use through GIS-Based Kernel Density Estimation: A Re-Evaluation of Legacy Data from the Berbati-Limnes Survey. Journal of Field Archaeology, 44(2), 70–83. doi: 10.1080/00934690.2019.1570481 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2019). Resolution No. 846 on approval of the National List of Tangible Cultural Heritage Sites (October 4, 2019). LexUZ. Retrieved from https://lex.uz/docs/7261884
Cerisola, S., & Panzera, E. (2024). Heritage tourism and local prosperity: An empirical investigation of their controversial relationship. Tourism Economics, 31(5). doi: 10.1177/13548166241234099 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Chen, J., Guo, Z., Xu, S., Law, R., Liao, C., He, W., & Zhang, M. (2022). A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism Using CiteSpace: The Perspective of China. Land, 11(12), 2298. doi: 10.3390/land11122298 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Chen, S.-Q., Zhang, J., Luan, W.-L., & Luo, X. (2025). A GIS-Based Study on Spatial Pattern, Accessibility and Equity of Urban Cultural Resources: A Case Study of Red Culture Resources in Shanghai. Buildings, 15(13), 2268. doi : 10.3390/buildings15132268 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Chenavaz, R., Leocata, M., Ogonowska, M., & Torre, D. (2022). Sustainable tourism. Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 143, 104483. doi: 10.1016/j.jedc.2022.104483 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Ciski, M., Rząsa, K., & Ogryzek, M. (2019). Use of GIS Tools in Sustainable Heritage Management—The Importance of Data Generalization in Spatial Modeling. Sustainability, 11(20), 5616. doi: 10.3390/su11205616 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Espino Hidalgo, B.D. (2020). Patrimonio cultural como factor de desarrollo territorial resiliente en áreas rurales. El caso de Mértola (Portugal). PASOS Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 18, 9-25. doi: 10.25145/j.pasos.2020.18.001 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
European Commission. (2025). Cultural tourism projects funded by the EU. Retrieved fromhttps://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/tourism/eu-funding-and-businesses/funded-projects/cult ral_en
Folorunso, C. A. (2021). Globalization, Cultural Heritage Management and the Sustainable Development Goals in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Nigeria. Heritage, 4(3), 1703-1715. doi: 10.3390/heritage4030094 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Geçikli, R. M., Turan, O., Lachytová, L., Dağlı, E., Kasalak, M. A., Uğur, S. B., & Guven, Y. (2024). Cultural Heritage Tourism and Sustainability: A Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability, 16(15), 6424. doi: 10.3390/su16156424 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Graham, B. J., Ashworth, G. J., & Tunbridge, J. E. (2000). A geography of heritage: Power, culture and economy. London: Arnold; New York: Oxford University Press.
Heydari Dastenaei, M., & Niknami, K. A. (2024). Application of Moran’s I statistics in spatial analysis of archaeological sites of the Sarfirouzabad Plain, Central Zagros, Iran. Journal of Ancient History and Archaeology, 10(4). doi: 10.14795/j.v10i4.921 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Holtorf, C. (2018). Embracing change: how cultural resilience is increased through cultural heritage. World Archaeology, 50(4), 639–650. doi: 10.1080/00438243.2018.1510340 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Huang, B., & Wang, J. (2020). Big spatial data for urban and environmental sustainability. Geo-Spatial Information Science, 23(2), 125–140. doi: 10.1080/10095020.2020.1754138 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Huang, W. J., Beeco, J. A., Hallo, J. C., & Norman, W. C. (2016). Bundling attractions for rural tourism development. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 24(10), 1387–1402. doi: 10.1080/09669582.2015.1115510 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Huang, Y. (2024). Bibliometric analysis of GIS applications in heritage studies based on Web of Science from 1994 to 2023. Heritage Science, 12, 57. doi: 10.1186/s40494-024-01163-y [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Juraturgunov, H., Raimkulov, M., Ahn, Y.-j., & Kang, E. M. (2023). World Heritage Site Tourism and Destination Loyalty along the Silk Road: A Study of U.S. Travelers in Uzbekistan. Sustainability, 15(13), 10337. doi: 10.3390/su151310337 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Kilichov, M. (2023). The Silk Road Heritage Enhancement for Local Sustainable Tourism Development in Bukhara (Uzbekistan). Analysis and Diagnosis about the Current Situation [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/201551[Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Li, L., & Tang, Y. (2024). Towards the Contemporary Conservation of Cultural Heritages: An Overview of Their Conservation History. Heritage, 7(1), 175-192. doi: 10.3390/heritage7010009 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Lian, Y., & Xie, J. (2024). The Evolution of Digital Cultural Heritage Research: Identifying Key Trends, Hotspots, and Challenges through Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability, 16(16), 7125. doi: 10.3390/su16167125 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Liu, B., Wu, C., Xu, W., Liu, Y., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, Y. (2024). Emerging trends in GIS application on cultural heritage conservation: A review. Heritage Science, 12, 139. doi: 10.1186/s40494-024-01265-7 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Lu, C., & Wan, C. (2018). Cultural Self-Awareness as Awareness of Culture’s Influence on the Self: Implications for Cultural Identification and Well-Being. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 44(6), 823-837. doi: 10.1177/0146167217752117 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Maietti, F. (2023). Heritage Enhancement through Digital Tools for Sustainable Fruition—A Conceptual Framework. Sustainability, 15(15), 11799. doi: 10.3390/su151511799 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Malaperdas, G. (2022). Techniques for drawing and mapping a cultural route. e-Review of Tourism Research, 19(2), 280–307. [Google Scholar]
Martín Martín, J. M., Rodriguez Martín, J. A., Zermeño Mejía, K. A., & Salinas Fernández, J. A. (2018). Effects of Vacation Rental Websites on the Concentration of Tourists—Potential Environmental Impacts. An Application to the Balearic Islands in Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2), 347. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020347[Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Mazzamuto, M., & Picone, M. (2022). RETRACTED: The Commodification Dilemma: Tourism Pressure and Heritage Conservation in Barcelona. Societies, 12(4), 111. doi: 10.3390/soc12040111 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Ottaviani, D., Demiröz, M., Szemző, H., & De Luca, C. (2023). Adapting methods and tools for participatory heritage-based tourism planning to embrace the four pillars of sustainability. Sustainability, 15(6), 4741. [Google Scholar]
Piñar, G., & Sterflinger, K. (2021). Natural sciences at the service of art and cultural heritage: an interdisciplinary area in development and important challenges. Microbial biotechnology, 14(3), 806–809. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.13766 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Puttanapong, N., Luenam, A., & Jongwattanakul, P. (2022). Spatial Analysis of Inequality in Thailand: Applications of Satellite Data and Spatial Statistics/Econometrics. Sustainability, 14(7), 3946. doi: 10.3390/su14073946 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Qaemmaqami, S. A. (2024). A Note on the Āl-i Burhān of Bukhara and the Author of the Laṭāʾif al-aḏkār. Iranian Studies, 1–6. doi: 10.1017/irn.2024.22 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Qi, J., Lu, Y., Han, F., Ma, X., & Yang, Z. (2022). Spatial Distribution Characteristics of the Rural Tourism Villages in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Its Influencing Factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9330. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19159330 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Qiu, Q., Zuo, Y., & Zhang, M. (2022). Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism: Research Review and Investigation of Future Agenda. Land, 11(1), 139. doi: 10.3390/land11010139 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Ramón-Cardona, J., & Sánchez-Fernández, M. D. (2022). Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Ibiza (Spain) and Its Potential to Be Valued as a Tourist Offer. Heritage, 5(3), 1350-1369. doi: 10.3390/heritage5030070 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Rodríguez Rangel, M. C., & Sánchez Rivero, M. (2020). Spatial Imbalance Between Tourist Supply and Demand: The Identification of Spatial Clusters in Extremadura, Spain. Sustainability, 12(4), 1651. doi: 10.3390/su12041651 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Rong, A., & Jianwei, S. (2023). Evaluation model of cultural heritage tourist attractions based on network virtual resource sharing and real-time information processing. Soft Computing, 27, 10249–10261. doi: 10.1007/s00500-023-08278-7 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Rudan, E. (2023). Circular Economy of Cultural Heritage—Possibility to Create a New Tourism Product through Adaptive Reuse. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 16(3), 196. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm16030196[Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Rueda Márquez de la Plata, A., Cruz Franco, P. A., & Ramos Sánchez, J. A. (2022). Architectural Survey, Diagnostic, and Constructive Analysis Strategies for Monumental Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Management of Tourism. Buildings, 12(8), 1156. doi : 10.3390/buildings12081156 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Sethaba, R.M., & Scholes, M.C. (2021). Management guidelines for the conservation of heritage resources in Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga. doi: 10.4102/KOEDOE.V63I1.1647 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Shirokalova, G., Bataev, D., Bataeva, P., & Konyukhov, V. (2023). Revival of historical heritage sites in the North Caucasus in the context of urbanization. Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories.
Shrestha, R., Shen, Z., & Bhatta, K. D. (2024). Cultural Heritage Deterioration in the Historical Town ‘Thimi’. Buildings, 14(1), 244. doi: 10.3390/buildings14010244 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Strippoli, R., Gallucci, T., & Ingrao, C. (2024). Circular economy and sustainable development in the tourism sector – An overview of the truly-effective strategies and related benefits. Heliyon, 10(17), e36801. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36801 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Tang, C., Zheng, Q., & Ng, P. (2019). A Study on the Coordinative Green Development of Tourist Experience and Commercialization of Tourism at Cultural Heritage Sites. Sustainability, 11(17), 4732. doi: 10.3390/su11174732 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Thompson A. E., Walden J. P., Chase A. S. Z., Hutson S. R., Marken D. B., Cap B. (2022). Ancient Lowland Maya neighborhoods: Average Nearest Neighbor analysis and kernel density models, environments, and urban scale. PLoS ONE, 17(11): e0275916. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275916 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Ultsch A, Lötsch J. (2017). A data science based standardized Gini index as a Lorenz dominance preserving measure of the inequality of distributions. PLOS ONE, 12(8): e0181572. doi : 10.1371/journal.pone.0181572 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
UNESCO. (1972). Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/
UNESCO. (2025). Historic Centre of Bukhara. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/602/
UNESCO. (2014). Sustainable tourism and World Heritage. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Retrieved from https://whc.unesco.org/en/tourism/
Valjarević, A., Vukoičić, D., & Valjarević, D. (2017). Evaluation of the tourist potential and natural attractivity of the Lukovska Spa. Tourism management perspectives, 22, 7-16. doi: 10.1016/j.tmp.2016.12.004. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Vallianatou, E., Sarris, A., & Malaperdas, G. (2025). Cultural heritage risk assessment in a changing rural landscape: The case study of Northeastern Messenia, Greece. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 38, e00425. doi: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00425 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Wang, X., Zhang, J., Cenci, J., & Becue, V. (2021). Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the World Architectural Heritage. Heritage, 4(4), 2942-2959. doi: 10.3390/heritage4040164 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Wei, F., Sun, C., & Ma, J. (2024). Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of High-Grade Cultural Heritage in the Region Surrounding Mount Song. Buildings, 14(10), 3259. doi: 10.3390/buildings14103259 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Ye, X., & Andris, C. (2021). Spatial social networks in geographic information science. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 35(12), 2375–2379. doi: 10.1080/13658816.2021.2001722 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Yuan, C., Gan, L., & Zhuo, H. (2022). Coupling Mechanisms and Development Patterns of Revitalizing Intangible Cultural Heritage by Integrating Cultural Tourism: The Case of Hunan Province, China. Sustainability, 14(12), 6994. doi: 10.3390/su14126994 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Zhang, J., Cenci, J., Becue, V., & Koutra, S. (2022). Analysis of spatial structure and influencing factors of the distribution of national industrial heritage sites in China based on mathematical calculations. Environmental science and pollution research international, 29(18), 27124–27139. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-17866-9 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Zhang, J., Jiang, L., Wang, X., Chen, Z., & Xu, S. (2024). A Study on the Spatiotemporal Aggregation and Corridor Distribution Characteristics of Cultural Heritage: The Case of Fuzhou, China. Buildings, 14(1), 121. doi: 10.3390/buildings14010121 [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mukhriddin Kilichov, Lóránt Dénes Dávid
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
