Tourism, with a high economic and social significance for the economy of many countries, is one of the fastest developing fields. A new challenge of transition to an innovative way of developing tourism industry is strongly proposed with the result of existing conditions of fierce rivalry in the field, economic and political instability in many regions, including the Republic of Uzbekistan, the fast-growing needs and demands of tourists. Therefore, destinations, importantly, have to determine their competitiveness to figure out their strengths and weaknesses and thereby develop their future conditions. The authors discuss the issues related to the innovation in tourism destinations and present its main directions in the sector, as well as factors affecting the innovative development of the fieldin Khorezm region of Uzbekistan. Moreover, the chapter illustrates the principles and basic requirements for the system of managing innovative activities in tourism destinations at macro, mesa, and microeconomic levels.
TopIntroduction
Tourism has become a global economic activity in recent decades. Driven by a relatively strong global economy, a growing middle class in emerging economies, technological advances, new business models, affordable travel costs and visa facilitation, international tourist arrivals rose 5% in 2018 to reach the 1.4 billionmark. This figure was reached two years ahead of UNWTO forecast. Also, export earnings generated by tourism have grown to USD 1.7 trillion in 2018. This makes the sector a true global force for economic growth and development, driving the creation of more and better jobs and serving as catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship. In short, tourism is helping build better lives for millions of individuals and transforming whole communities. Growth in international tourist arrivals and receipts continues to outpace the world economy and both emerging and advanced economies are benefiting from rising tourism income. During the last seven years, tourism exports grew faster than merchandise exports, reducing trade deficits in many countries (UNWTO, 2019). That's how it works World Tourism Organization UNWTO (2017) from an increase in international arrivals 3.3% per annum to over 1.8 billion by 2030, with the proportion of developing countries, both as destinations and as source markets.
Today, despite the large number of publications published in recent years, there is a growing need for further progress of the topic of the innovative development of tourist destinations with a clear theoretical concept of competitiveness of destinations. Consequently, a consistent methodological derivation of analysis is crucial and enough for use in various economic contexts of destination development.
The main purpose of this work is to discuss the concept of competitiveness in tourism destination and present some adjustable and innovative directions to improve the current conditions. During the recent years in the world, where strong competition is widespread, tourism destination competitiveness owns enormous importance to raise market share. Moreover, in today’s saturated markets where competitiveness is highly experienced, one of the most difficult and major tasks fulfilled by sector managers is that of saving and sustaining tourism destination competitiveness. The power of competitiveness in tourism destination increases by the area where all of its alternative and innovative tourism products and attractiveness are conveyed to potential markets in detail.
In order to get the main purpose this research, meanwhile, it is crucial to analyze and determine the conception of implementing innovation in increasing competitiveness within destination management. Recent figures of tourism sector indicate that the market shares of competitive tourism destinations are expected to rise. Because of the recent increase in tourism investments in this region, Khorezm is chosen as the domain of the investigation. Various aspects of destination competitiveness have been studied in the literature, but without reference to the case of the region and a holistic point of view focusing on the conception of innovation. Therefore, this research tries to examine to present some adjustable and innovative directions to improve the current conditions in the region. In the literature review, the concept of innovative management and the definition of innovation in tourism destination are presented together with the factors that define what innovation is and what it is not.