Publication Details
Abstract
The hospitality sector stands at a crossroads where economic imperatives meet environmental responsibilities. The paper explores the conditions of sustainable tourism and its impact on the hospitality industry, using Uzbekistan as an example of a country moving from centuries of strong tradition and hospitality to the development of the hospitality industry based on advanced technology. AbstractWe analyse and discuss the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) frameworks and mechanisms for implementation and compliance within hotel and tourism systems, introducing a model for adaptation of these systems to the specific conditions in Central Asia. We conduct bibliometric analysis of 150 academic publications, combined with field data sourced from 45 hotels across four major cities of Uzbekistan. We offer practitioners a measurable approach to monitoring progress as a Sustainability Performance Index that they can use. These findings challenge the perception that green practices come at a sacrifice to profitability by showing that properties that score better on sustainability metrics also indicated greater guest satisfaction and operational savings. Our ESG model takes into consideration regional factors, from the UNESCO sites of Bukhara to the ecological challenges of Karakalpakstan.