HOW DATA SCIENCE CAN REVIVE UZBEKISTAN’S TOURISM INDUSTRY

Abstract

This research paper provides a comprehensive examination of how big data and data science can transform the tourism industry in Uzbekistan—a sector of growing strategic importance under the national digitalization agenda. The study explores big data concepts, analytical models, and their application to tourism functions such as demand forecasting, visitor segmentation, and service personalization. Uzbekistan’s recent announcement of a tourism big data platform, developed with Chinese partners and modeled on successful smart tourism systems, serves as the focal point for this analysis. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative interviews with tourism stakeholders and quantitative analysis of digital behavior data, the study identifies major trends, structural barriers, and actionable opportunities. Findings indicate that while mobile-first travel planning and increasing digital adoption present strong potential, barriers such as fragmented data ecosystems, limited infrastructure, and low analytics capacity persist. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations to enable data-driven tourism growth aligned with the objectives of the Digital Uzbekistan 2030 program.