TOURISM STARTUPS AS DRIVERS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT: COMPARATIVE INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR UZBEKISTAN
Keywords:
tourism startups; rural development; Uzbekistan; agritourism; community-based tourism; smart tourism; entrepreneurship; Silk Road; digital platforms; sustainable tourismAbstract
Tourism startups increasingly shape the industry through innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. In rural areas, they can diversify economies and promote inclusive growth. This paper examines their role in Uzbekistan, comparing international practices from Europe, Nepal, South Korea, and Japan. Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage, supportive strategies (Uzbekistan–2030, New Uzbekistan 2022–2026), and a growing tourism market provide strong foundations for rural entrepreneurship. Yet infrastructure gaps, limited digitalization, skill shortages, and weak legal frameworks remain barriers. The study concludes that targeted reforms can enable tourism startups to drive sustainable rural development in Uzbekistan.
References
1. StartUs Insights. (2024, May 18). Travel Report 2024: Key data & nnovation insights. Retrieved from https://www.startus-insights.com/innovators-guide/travel-report/
2. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2023, September 11). Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Strategy "Uzbekistan — 2030" (No. DP-158). Tashkent: National Database of Legislation.
3. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2022, January 28). Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan for 2022–2026 (No. DP-60). Entered into force January 29, 2022. Tashkent: National Database of Legislation.
4. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2019, October 23). Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the approval of the Strategy for the development of agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2020–2030 (No. DP-5853). Entered into force October 24, 2019. Tashkent: National Database of Legislation.
5. Lane, B., & Kastenholz, E. (2015). Rural tourism: The evolution of practice and research approaches – towards a new generation concept? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 23(8–9), 1133–1156. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2015.1083997
6. OECD. (2021). Tourism Trends and Policies 2020. OECD Publishing.
7. Dahal, N., & Adhikari, S. (2018). Community-based tourism in Nepal: Opportunities and challenges. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Education, 8, 25–46.
8. Lee, H., & Kim, M. (2018). Smart tourism in South Korea: Development and future directions. Information Technology & Tourism, 20(1-4), 1–17.
9. METI Japan. (2020). Tourism Nation Promotion Basic Plan. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Government of Japan.
