Advancing tourist safety management in Uzbekistan’s growing tourism industry: a systems theory approach
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https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17225129##semicolon##
Tourist safety, risk management, destination governance, Systems Theory, Uzbekistan, smart tourism##article.abstract##
This paper aims to identify the systemic weaknesses in tourist safety management for Uzbekistan’s rapidly
growing urban tourist destinations, and it proposes an integrated framework to address these weaknesses. The
methodology approach utilizes a qualitative comparative approach; the research on secondary data from international
best practices (Singapore, Japan, UAE) and official Uzbek tourism sources. Thematic analysis informed by Systems
Theory revealed deficiencies in five safety management dimensions. The practical implications of this study offer an
actionable roadmap for policymakers with a focus on integrated technological solutions, standardized training protocols,
multilingual communication platforms, formalized coordination mechanisms, and improved regulatory standards. This
paper fills a gap in the literature in terms of safety management in emerging tourism destinations, particularly in Central
Asia. It theorizes safety in tourism at the destination level, and provides input for preventive safety management systems
in an emerging destination with features that have been affected by rapid urban developments in the country.
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