Digital Transformation and Strategic Management in Uzbekistan’s Tourism Industry
Abstract
The rapid evolution of digital technologies has significantly reshaped the global tourism landscape, prompting the need for adaptive management strategies. This study investigates the relationship between technological adoption and customer satisfaction in the tourism industry, with a specific focus on the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan. Grounded in the Service-Dominant Logic, Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC), Expectation-Disconfirmation, and Diffusion of Innovation theories, the research identifies key trends in digital engagement and service evaluation across age groups. The study employs a mixed-method approach combining literature review, quantitative surveys of 100 respondents, and SPSS-based statistical analysis. Key indicators such as digital tool usage and service satisfaction were examined using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and reliability testing (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.802). Results indicate a strong positive relationship between digital engagement and service satisfaction, particularly among respondents aged 18–25, who also constituted the largest demographic group. Graphical representations and tables highlight the digital divide across generations, suggesting a need for inclusive technological strategies. The findings emphasize the managerial importance of balancing digital transformation with core service quality to enhance tourist experience. The discussion supports theoretical models and identifies a knowledge gap in institutional readiness and regional strategy alignment. The study concludes with recommendations for further research on AI-enabled tourism, regional digital infrastructure, and long-term behavioral shifts in post-pandemic travel. These insights contribute to developing sustainable and competitive tourism models in the era of digital globalization.
References
N. Yavorska and T. Slipchuk, “Features of application of information technologies in modern tourism,” Innovative Solution in Modern Science, no. 12(36), pp. 4–10, 2019.
A. Yessengeldina et al., “Assessment of the tourist potential of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 3, p. 132, 2021, doi:10.3390/socsci10030132.
M. Rahimov and M. Rakhimov, “Organisational and economic mechanism for the development of tourism in Uzbekistan,” Academicia: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 1284–1289, 2021.
E. Buhalis and C. Costa, Tourism Management Dynamics: Trends, Management and Tools, Oxford: Elsevier, 2006.
E. Buhalis and R. Law, “Progress in information technology and tourism management: 20 years on and 10 years after the internet—The state of eTourism research,” Tourism Management, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 609–623, Aug. 2008.
S. Vargo and R. Lusch, “Evolving to a new dominant logic for marketing,” Journal of Marketing, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 1–17, Jan. 2004.
R. W. Butler, “The concept of a tourist area cycle of evolution: Implications for management of resources,” Canadian Geographer, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 5–12, 1980.
R. L. Oliver, “A cognitive model of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction decisions,” Journal of Marketing Research, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 460–469, Nov. 1980.
E. M. Rogers, Diffusion of Innovations, 5th ed. New York: Free Press, 2003.
N. H. M. Noor and S. Mohamed, “The role of digitalization in modern tourism business: A Malaysian perspective,” International Journal of Innovation, Creativity and Change, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 153–165, 2020.
A. Gretzel, M. Sigala, Z. Xiang, and C. Koo, “Smart tourism: Foundations and developments,” Electronic Markets, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 179–188, 2015
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Tourism and COVID-19: Understanding the impact and path to recovery, UNWTO, Madrid, 2021.
S. Gössling, D. Scott, and C. M. Hall, “Pandemics, tourism and global change: A rapid assessment of COVID-19,” Journal of Sustainable Tourism, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 1–20, 2021.
S. Mazilu and A. Marinescu, “Tourism and sustainable regional development,” Economic Insights – Trends and Challenges, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 61–68, 2011
T. Hjalager, “Innovative policy initiatives for tourism,” Tourism Management, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 465–474, 2010.
S. Sigala, “Social media and customer engagement in the hospitality industry,” Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 632–653, 2017.
Copyright (c) 2025 Raimova Muxlisa Abduhakim qizi, Shakhriyorova Mamura Otabekovna

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In submitting the manuscript to the Central Asian Journal of Innovations on Tourism Management and Finance, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- The publication has been approved by the author(s) and by responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
License and Copyright Agreement
Authors who publish with Central Asian Journal of Innovations on Tourism Management and Finance agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the Central Asian Journal of Innovations on Tourism Management and Finance right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Central Asian Journal of Innovations on Tourism Management and Finance published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.