CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN UZBEKISTAN’S HOTEL INDUSTRY: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Abstract

Tourism flows and hotel infrastructure in Uzbekistan have been developing rapidly in recent years. Along with economic benefits (employment, regional development, expansion of the service market), the expansion of tourism also increases environmental pressures (energy and water consumption, waste), social issues (working conditions, skills, inclusiveness), and governance challenges (transparency, standards, risk of "greenwashing"). This article examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the hotel sector influences sustainable tourism, identifies practical barriers, and highlights opportunities in the Uzbek context. The analysis draws on the dynamics of tourist trips in 2020–2024, the structure of travel purposes in 2024, and the regional distribution of travel-company and hotel indicators, and proposes practical recommendations for hotels and policymakers.