Sustainable Development in Tourism & Hospitality Industry of Uzbekistan

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A.M.Sufyan

Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent

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President of Uzbekistan, H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev, advises

• The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, advises prioritizing ”Green Tourism" initiatives by focusing on developing a global "Green Tourism" action plan.

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• Establishing a "Best City Promoting Green Tourism" award, and creating a dedicated "Global Green Tourism Startups' Laboratory" in collaboration with the UNWTO.

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• Promoting sustainable tourism practices in Uzbekistan, particularly around the Silk Road region.
•  President also emphasizes the importance of training tourism professionals in sustainable practices through institutions
• Encouraging the development of innovative green tourism solutions through initiatives like a "Global Green Tourism Startups' Laboratory" to foster new ideas and technologies.

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• Overall, the President's vision for sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan emphasizes a strong focus on environmental protection, international collaboration, education, and utilizing the country's rich cultural heritage to promote responsible tourism practices. 

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President of Uzbekistan, H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasis on:

• Focus on "Green Tourism
• The President strongly advocates for integrating environmentally friendly practices into tourism development, promoting initiatives like "Green Tourism" and establishing a dedicated platform to develop and implement sustainable tourism solutions. 
• International Collaboration
• He encourages partnerships with international organizations like the UNWTO to create global standards and initiatives for sustainable tourism
• Education and Training
• Investing in training programs for tourism professionals at institutions like the International Tourism Academies, and Promoting the Silk Road Brand
• Innovation and Startups
• Encouraging the development of innovative green tourism solutions through initiatives like a "Global Green Tourism Startups' Laboratory" to foster new ideas and technologies. 

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�UN General Assembly approves Uzbekistan’s resolution on tourism in Central Asia�

• The UN General Assembly adopted a special resolution “Sustainable tourism and sustainable development in Central Asia”. The draft document, developed by Uzbekistan and introduced on behalf of all five Central Asian countries, was unanimously supported by all UN member states, the Foreign Ministry reported.

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• The initiative for the UN General Assembly to adopt this resolution was first put forward by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in April this year in Beijing at a meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres as part of the international forum “One belt, one road”.

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• The resolution adopted by the General Assembly emphasizes the importance of the efforts of CA countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, various international events for the further development of tourism in the region, as well as measures taken by the Central Asian states to widely attract international finance and investment in the tourism sector.

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�Trilateral Agreement to Develop a Comprehensive Tourism Strategy through 2040.�

• On January 29, 2025, the Tourism Committee, the Agency for Strategic Reforms, and the international consulting firm “Reformatics” signed a trilateral agreement to develop a comprehensive tourism strategy through 2040.�
• The primary objective is to elevate the tourism sector's contribution to the national economy to 7% of GDP by 2040. The strategy sets ambitious targets, including increasing domestic tourist arrivals to 30 million annually and international arrivals to 20 million. The strategy is planned to be developed by the end of the year. We can provide additional information once the strategy has been developed. (Ministry of Tourism Uzbekistan)

The MOST Project and SwitchAsia Program

• The international conference "Development of a Model Of Sustainable Tourism
• A way to increase tourism potential" is held within the framework of the Project "Model for sustainable tourism in Central Asia: capacity building, awareness raising, technology adoption" (the MOST Project) funded by the European Union (EU) under the Program SwitchAsia, as well as with the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
• H.E. Aziz Abdukhakimov, The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, noted the importance of applying and actively using "green" technologies in the tourism sector.

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• Within the framework of the MOST Project, seminars were held - trainings on sustainable marketing, GSTC for sustainable tourism and green procurement to increase competitiveness. Certification training of participants was focused on the following standards:
• ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System);
• HCMI (Hotel Carbon Measurement Initiative). This is a methodology and toolkit that is designed for the hotel industry
• CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)

Hotels and Environment

• Hotels in today’s business environment are no longer solely concerned with profit, but rather with profit, people, and the planet (3Ps). In corporate terms, green investment (GI) is regarded as a strategy that aims for maximum profit with minimal environmental impact

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• Sustainable tourism development is to take care of its present and future environmental, social and economic impacts, dealing with the needs and concerns of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities (UNWTO, para. 1.1) SF-MST

Sustainable Tourism and Hotel Accommodations

• Sustainable Tourism and Hotel Accommodations are moving from competitiveness to sustainability awareness

(Department of Business Management and Marketing, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Huelva, 21004 Huelva, Spain).

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• Sustainable Blue Economy in EU

�The 4 Pillar Approach To Sustainable Tourism�

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• Environmental Pillar: Environmental Responsibility
• Social Pillar: Social Equity
• Economic Pillar: Economic Health
• Cultural Pillar: Cultural Vitality

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Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development has become a popular trend in all economies. Sustainability is getting extraordinary attention from governments, ministries, government institutions, scholars and economists attempting to provide practical solutions to all main sustainable issues.

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• Sustainable development in the tourism and hospitality industry in Uzbekistan is getting momentum and the attention of the government in recent years.

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• This sustainable momentum and government attention geared up by the country's rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and natural beauty. Uzbekistan is positioning the country as a prominent key destination hub along the Silk Road. To keep in view the future tourism demand, to meet the UNWTO requirements, there is great importance to balance tourism growth with environmental preservation, cultural integrity, and socio-economic benefits.

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��UN report on Sustainability 2024�Report of the Secretary-General ��

• Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals

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• The midpoint of our journey to 2030 has passed, and signs of a determined, sustained global comeback have yet to emerge. This year’s report reveals that currently, the world is on track to achieve only 17 per cent of the targets under the Sustainable Development Goals. While minimal or moderate progress is being median nearly half of the targets, there is a pressing need for acceleration.

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• The coronavirus disease COVID-19) pandemic, a growing number of conflicts, geopolitical and trade tensions, and the ever-worsening effects of climate change have combined to leave he Goals in peril.

UNWTO Data

• The travel industry generated $1.9 trillion in revenue, with each tourist spending an average of $1,000. 

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• An estimated 1.4 billion international tourists (overnight visitors) were recorded around the world in 2024, an increase of 11% over 2023, or 140 million more.

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Ways to Promote Sustainable Tourism by Uzbek Hotel Assoc.

• Travel to Less-Visited Destinations
• Invest in Sustainable Travel Gear
• Get Involved and Educated to all stake holders
• Support the Right Businesses
• Spread Awareness of Regulations and Laws
• Thoughtful Travel for a Better Future

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The current status of the SDGs: severely off track�

• The progress assessment carried out in 2024 reveals that the world is severely off track to realize the 2030 Agenda.
• Of the 169 targets, 135 can be assessed using available global trend data from the 2015 baseline to the most recent year, along with custodian agency analyses; 34 targets lack sufficient trend data or additional analysis.
• Among the assessable targets, only 17 per cent display progress sufficient for achievement by 2030. Nearly half
• In 2023, the world experienced the warmest year on record.

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The current status of the SDGs: severely off track

LA economical loss 250-300 Billion $