Tourism infrastructure constraints and service gaps in Uzbekistan's visitor economy

Tourism is an influential economic sector that is quickly and comprehensively transforming national development
agendas worldwide. This study aims to focus on structural implications of infrastructure constraints and service provision
gaps and to enrich the existing literature in emerging visitor economies. Empirically, we draw on a mixed-method
research project, assessing the interrelationships of tourism infrastructure variables and the experiences of domestic and
international visitors in Uzbekistan. A structural equation model consisting of three latent dimensions was created and
estimated through regression and summative analysis. The findings indicate that transport connectivity and hospitality
service quality developments have significant impacts on tourist satisfaction and revisit intention. Service accessibility is
deeply embedded in destination competitiveness and reshapes visitor behavior through perceived service equity. Closing
the research gaps would contribute to the development of much-needed evidence-based planning policies. Robust
infrastructure promotes sustainable tourism and data-informed applications of service quality enhancement, and realizes
long-term growth potential in Uzbekistan’s tourism sector.