THE ROLE OF CULTURAL TOURISM IN PRESERVING LOCAL TRADITIONS AND IMPROVING TOURIST EXPERIENCES IN UZBEKISTAN

Cultural tourism has become an important means to preserve traditions and offer a unique experience to the visitors. As opposed to purely recreational activities, cultural tourism helps the visitors learn and appreciate the local history and cultural heritage, traditions, crafts, food, music, architecture, and unique lifestyles. Uzbekistan has much to offer in terms of cultural tourism due to its diverse cultural traditions in different regions and strong historical heritage linked to the Silk Road. However, the way to balance between the preservation of local identity and adaptation to the needs of modern tourists is not always straightforward. This paper will discuss how cultural tourism can help in preserving the local traditions and providing the tourists with high-quality experiences through a qualitative analysis of scholarly articles and literature from international heritage and tourism organizations. The study argues that traditional crafts, food, cultural heritage, and community-based tourism offer a basis for building long-standing relationships between tourists and local residents. However, for this to happen, it is crucial to ensure the high standards of heritage management and the active participation of the local communities in all stages of tourism development. The paper concludes that cultural tourism is a concept going beyond historical monuments and aiming to introduce visitors to the richness of local traditions and cultures.