INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION AND TOURISM GOVERNANCE IN UZBEKISTAN: A THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18642458Keywords:
tourism governance; institutional coordination; public administration; tourism policy; Uzbekistan; sustainable tourism.Abstract
The tourism sector is characterized by a complex institutional structure involving multiple public and private
stakeholders, which requires effective coordination and governance mechanisms. In recent years, Uzbekistan has
implemented significant reforms aimed at enhancing tourism development; however, challenges related to institutional
coordination remain. This study examines the governance and management of institutional structures coordinating the
tourism sector in Uzbekistan through a combined theoretical and empirical approach. The research employs qualitative
policy analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and expert assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of existing
coordination mechanisms. The findings reveal that despite improvements in strategic planning and regulatory frameworks,
institutional fragmentation, overlapping mandates, and limited horizontal coordination continue to constrain effective
tourism governance. Based on international best practices, the study proposes policy recommendations to strengthen
institutional coordination, enhance inter-agency collaboration, and improve governance efficiency in the tourism sector.
The results contribute to the literature on tourism governance in transitional economies and offer practical implications
for policymakers.
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