Improving Effective Development Methods of Tourist-Oriented Public Catering Services in the Regions of Uzbekistan

This paper presents an IMRAD-structured investigation of tourist-oriented public catering services in the regions of Uzbekistan. The study applies a mixed-methods approach combining system analysis, SWOT analysis, comparative benchmarking, and statistical evaluation to assess the current condition of regional gastronomy tourism. Uzbekistan received 8.2 million international tourists in 2024—a 24.2% increase over 2023—yet regional catering infrastructure remains uneven, digitally underperforming, and insufficiently integrated with destination management systems. The findings identify five major factor groups constraining effectiveness: economic, organizational, socio-cultural, technological, and environmental. Drawing on international best practices from Italy, Spain, Japan, Thailand, and France, the paper proposes an integrated gastronomic cluster model underpinned by digital transformation, service quality standardization (SERVQUAL/DINESERV frameworks), sustainability principles, and strengthened public-private coordination. The proposed framework offers a scientifically grounded and practically applicable roadmap for improving regional tourism competitiveness and preserving Uzbekistan's unique culinary heritage.