TITLE: PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP AS A MECHANISM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TOURISM SECTOR IN UZBEKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19157345Keywords:
Public-Private Partnership; Tourism Development; Institutional Framework; Tourism Infrastructure; UzbekistanAbstract
Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy and plays an important role in the economic
diversification of developing countries (WTTC, 2024). In its national development agenda, Uzbekistan has identified
tourism as a strategic sector for sustainable economic growth (President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2023). However,
the expansion of tourism infrastructure requires significant financial resources that may exceed the capacity of public
funding alone.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) represent an effective governance and financing mechanism that enables cooperation
between governments and private investors in the development of tourism infrastructure and services (Djabbari et al.,
2021). Understanding the institutional structure and operational mechanisms of PPP models is therefore essential for
improving tourism investment and infrastructure development.
This study examines the potential role of PPPs in supporting the sustainable development of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector.
The research applies qualitative analytical methods based on document analysis, institutional analysis, and comparative
studies. The theoretical framework of the study is grounded in stakeholder theory, resource-based theory, and institutional
theory, which help explain how governance structures and stakeholder cooperation influence PPP implementation in
tourism development.
The findings indicate that Uzbekistan has established a substantial institutional and legislative framework for PPP
implementation. At the same time, opportunities remain for expanding PPP initiatives in tourism compared with sectors
such as energy and utilities. Key challenges affecting PPP expansion in tourism include financial risks, regulatory
complexity, and institutional coordination issues. Based on the results, the study proposes policy recommendations aimed
at improving regulatory frameworks, strengthening institutional cooperation, and encouraging greater private-sector
participation in tourism development.
References
1. Akhatay, A., & Dossymkhan, K. (2023). Public-private partnership frameworks for infrastructure development. Journal
of Infrastructure Policy and Development, 7(1), 18-28.
2. Ali, M., Faraz, M., Abbas, H. R., & Kumail, S. M. (2026). Strategic business and management practices for enhancing
tourism under CPEC: A cross-border perspective. Journal of Management Science Research Review, 5(1), 123-142.
3. Asian Development Bank. (2025). Public-private partnership monitor: Uzbekistan. https://www.adb.org.
4. Bayturova, A. (2025). Cultural tourism development along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan. Tourism Development Studies,
12(2), 90-102.
5. Cheuk, S., Atang, A., Lo, M., & Ramayah, T. (2010). Barriers to public-private partnership in tourism development.
International Journal of Hospitality Management, 29(1), 21-32.
6. Clarke, A., & MacDonald, A. (2019). Outcomes of cross-sector partnerships: The role of stakeholder engagement.
Business & Society, 58(3), 1-26.
7. Dewulf, G., & Garvin, M. (2020). Responsive governance in public-private partnerships. Routledge.
8. Djabbari, H., et al. (2021). Public-private partnership models in tourism development. Tourism Management
Perspectives, 39, 100856.
9. Franco, M., & Estevão, C. (2010). The role of tourism public-private partnerships in regional development. Tourism
Economics, 16(3), 600-612.
10. InfraPPP World. (2023). A tender was issued for the modernization of the international airport PPP in Uzbekistan.
11. Gustafsson, C., & Amer, M. (2023). Forsvik, Sweden: Towards a People-Public-Private Partnership as a circular
governance and sustainable culture tourism strategy. Sustainability, 15(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054687.
12. Kun.uz. (2025, February 3). 8.2 million tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2024.
13. https://kun.uz/en/news/2025/02/03/82-million-tourists-visited-uzbekistan-in-2024.
14. Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2025). Public-private partnership development
report. https://mf.uz.
15. OECD. (2025). Roadmap for sustainable investment policy reforms in Uzbekistan. Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development. https://www.oecd.org.
16. Oppokhonov, S. (2025). Infrastructure constraints in tourism development of Central Asian countries. Central Asian
Economic Review, 10(4), 405-415.
17. President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. (2023). Decree No. UP-158: Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy. https://lex.uz/ru/
docs/6600404.
18. Roik, O., et al. (2025). Public-private partnerships as a mechanism for sustainable tourism development. Tourism
Planning and Development, 22(1), 83-90.
19. Ronghang, S., & Sen, S. (2022). Public-private partnership in the tourism sector: An exploratory study of the Assam
tourism industry. International Journal of Applied Research, 8(9), 252-257. https://doi.org/10.22271/allresearch.2022.
v8.i9d.10163.
20. Sandy, M. Y. (2025). Public-private collaboration in sustainable tourism destination management: Case study of
MaxOne Resort and Hotel Makassar. Journal of International Multidisciplinary Research, 3(1), 341-356. https://doi.
org/10.62504/jimr1202.
21. Singh, S. (2025). The roles of government and the private sector in sustainable tourism and management in India.
International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, 09(02), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.55041/
ijsrem41445.
22. Strasser, S., Stauber, C., Shrivastava, R., Riley, P., & O’Quin, K. (2021). Collective insights of public-private
partnership impacts and sustainability: A qualitative analysis. PLoS ONE, 16(7), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.
pone.0254495.
23. Sultonova, M. (2025, May 8). Uzbekistan hits historic milestone with over 1 million foreign tourists in April 2025. Daryo.
24. Tohirov, B. (2025). Public-private partnerships and infrastructure development in South Korea. Asian Infrastructure
Studies, 8(2), 100-112.
25. Tohirov, A. (2025a). Janubiy Koreya tajribasi asosida O‘zbekistonda turizm infratuzilmasini barqaror rivojlantirishga
oid yondashuvlar. Iqtisodiy Taraqqiyot va Tahlil, 3(6), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.60078/2992-877x-2025-vol3-
iss6-pp102-111.
26. UN Tourism. (2025). International tourism highlights - 2025 edition. United Nations World Tourism Organization. https://
www.unwto.org.
27. Vasil’evna, B., Petruk, G., & Lebedinskaya, Y. (2017). Public and private sector entrepreneurship as a tool of dynamic
functioning of tourism clusters in the territories of outstripping development (case study of Primorsky Krai, Russian
Federation). Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast, 1(49), 200-217. https://doi.org/10.15838/
esc.2017.1.49.11.
28. World Bank. (2023). Public-private partnerships in Uzbekistan: Policy assessment report. World Bank.
29. World Travel & Tourism Council. (2024). Travel & tourism economic impact report. https://wttc.org.
30. Xusniddinov, B. (2025). Investment strategies for tourism development in Uzbekistan. Economic Policy Review, 15(3),
350-360.
31. Xudoyarov, A., & Gulboyeva, O. (2025). The role of private investment in the development of pilgrimage tourism
infrastructure in Uzbekistan. Iqtisodiy Taraqqiyot va Tahlil, 3(11), 269-278. https://doi.org/10.60078/2992-877x-2025-
vol3-iss11-pp269-278.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 GREEN ECONOMY AND DEVELOPMENT
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.