Smart and sustainable tourism strategies for Uzbekistan in the digital era

As digital transformation becomes an important pillar of smart city development, tourist destinations are looking for innovative approaches to improve visitor experiences and operational effectiveness. This paper explores how smart and sustainable strategies can be leveraged to promote Uzbekistan’s tourism digitalization, which is a nation endowed with rich cultural heritage but developing digital infrastructure. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, the study converges Glocal RPM and SANEL HERMES analysis frameworks to assess digital tourism’s current situation and challenges. Data were collected from surveys among tourists, stakeholder interviews, and expert judgments. The study identifies that Uzbekistan’s tourism sector is still at an early level of digital integration, and there is minimal coordination between urban innovation and tourism services. A strategic roadmap is outlined using the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) to prioritize digital initiatives that are consistent with smart city principles. The study points to the necessity for focused investment on digital infrastructure, capacity-building, and evidence-based decision-making. The findings provide practical implications for policymakers and urban managers looking to develop Uzbekistan’s tourism sector through smart city innovation.