CAU Professor Publishes Research on Human Resource Challenges in Uzbekistan’s Tourism Sector
Central Asian University Business School Professor H. Elif Kutlugun has co-authored a research article titled “Unlocking Tourism Growth in Uzbekistan: Managerial Perspectives on Human Resource Challenges.”
The article was published in Tourism: An International Interdisciplinary Journal, indexed in Scopus (Q2) and Web of Science ESCI.
Co-authored with Berislav Andrić and Alex Candor, the study examines one of the key challenges facing Uzbekistan’s rapidly growing tourism sector: human resource capacity.
Using the Ability–Motivation–Opportunity (AMO) framework and qualitative interviews with tourism managers, the researchers explored workforce challenges related to professional skills, employee motivation, loyalty, and opportunities for development.
The findings highlight the importance of stronger collaboration between government institutions, educational organizations, and industry stakeholders to better align tourism education with labor market needs and support the sustainable growth of the sector.
As Uzbekistan continues to develop as a major tourism destination, the study emphasizes the importance of investing in human capital alongside the development of tourism infrastructure.