The World Bank’s Role in Tourism Development: The Case of Uzbekistan

Abstract

After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, Uzbekistan started to build its own national economy with serious attempt to integrate with the international economy. Right after the independence, Uzbekistan joined the international organizations such the World Bank and the United Nations World Tourism Organization. Development projects were initiated and radical changes were noted through developing the infrastructure and building new airports and railways. Tourism was considered a priority and a tool for development in Uzbekistan. With these thoughts in mind, this paper attempts to examine the World Bank’s role in the tourism development in Uzbekistan. For the purpose of this study, the bank’s documents related to 39 projects that were implanted or are being currently implemented in the country were reviewed and content analyzed. The study suggested that, since the independence of Uzbekistan in 1991 and its enrollment to the World Bank in 1992 there has been no tourism-focus projects supported by the bank. Yet, a number of projects that addressed areas such as urban development and human resources development are expected to affect indirectly the growth and development of tourism industry in the country. The paper recommends tourism planners in Uzbekistan to reevaluate their connections with the international organizations to maximize their role in lunching projects that would contribute to the tourism development in the country.