Management of Innovation Activities of Ecotourism Entities in Uzbekistan's National Nature Parks: Theoretical Foundations and International Experience

Ecotourism has emerged as a critical pathway for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and regional economic growth. Uzbekistan possesses substantial ecotourism potential, encompassing over 5 million hectares of protected natural areas, including 10 national nature parks with rich biological diversity. However, the management of innovation activities by ecotourism entities within these protected areas remains insufficiently explored.
This study aims to develop theoretical and methodological foundations for managing innovation activities of ecotourism entities in Uzbekistan's national nature parks, drawing on advanced international experiences from the United Kingdom, Japan, and Canada.
A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining systematic literature review, comparative case study analysis of international practices, and content analysis of regulatory-legal documents. The theoretical framework integrates Schumpeter's innovation theory, systems thinking, sustainable development principles, and cluster-based management approaches.
The analysis reveals that ecotourism entities operate within complex multi-stakeholder environments requiring balanced economic, ecological, and social objectives. Four types of innovations were identified: technological, product, organizational-managerial, and marketing. International experience demonstrates that successful innovation management in national parks necessitates strategic planning, digital transformation, public-private partnerships, and local community engagement. Uzbekistan's national parks face challenges including infrastructure gaps, low digitalization levels, human capital shortages, and weak institutional coordination.
The study proposes a program-targeted innovation management model comprising five interconnected blocks: strategic planning, organizational-functional support, resource provision, incentive mechanisms, and monitoring-evaluation systems. Implementation of this model is expected to increase ecotourism revenues by 1.5-2.0 times while enhancing ecological sustainability.