Spatial organization and concentration of tourist accommodation in the Eastern Kazakhstan region

Abstract

The article analyzes the spatial structure of tourist accommodations in the East Kazakhstan region based on the dynamics of the number of accommodations by stable administrative units from 2020 to 2024. The purpose of the study is to identify the degree of territorial differentiation, concentration, and typological differences in the development of accommodation infrastructure. The methodological basis includes descriptive statistics and the assessment of dynamics by territory, calculation of spatial concentration indices (Herfindahl–Hirschman index) and distribution unevenness (Gini coefficient), as well as clustering of territories based on a combination of average level, relative change, and variability of the indicator. The results confirm the structural transformation of the space: a core of territories with a high level of provision of accommodation facilities is forming, while peripheral areas with low values and limited dynamics are being preserved. Concentration and unevenness indicators show that the structural “framework” of distribution is being preserved, with a tendency toward increasing differences between groups of territories. The proposed typology (core-semi-periphery-periphery) can be used to justify differentiated management decisions in regional tourism policy and to prioritize infrastructure development measures.