Analysis of the main development actors involved in tourism. The case of Uzbekistan and implications for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Tourism as an area within development has received an increasing interest
in the international aid community in recent years. Yet, until now, very few research has
been done on the dynamics shaping this area and its main actors. This paper focuses on
analyzing the main institutional development actors involved in tourism in Uzbekistan,
spamming from international organizations, multilateral banks and bilateral
development agencies. The objective is to define the role that the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO), the specialized United Nations agency in tourism, can play in
a context marked by a multiplicity of actors with a strong local presence and larger
resources. The methodology used includes interviews to representatives from the
Government and the principal aid actors working in tourism in Uzbekistan, along with
academic reviews. The analysis shows that UNWTO can play an important role given
the increasing relevance of tourism within development in the region. To fully harness
these opportunities, UNWTO will need to give visibility to its principal competitive
advantage – its specific tourism expertise – and strengthen its ties with established aid
actors on the ground, which will enable the organization to be considered as a partner
in future development projects.