NATIONAL SPECIALIZED PUBLICATIONS IN UZBEKISTAN’S TOURISM JOURNALISM: TYPOLOGY, FUNCTIONS, AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

Abstract

This article analyses the historical formation, typological characteristics, functional features, and content orientation of national specialized publications in Uzbekistan’s tourism journalism. The study examines the gradual transformation of tourism journalism from travel writing and travel journalism into an independent specialized media field. Using historical-chronological, typological, and content analysis methods, the article explores tourism-oriented publications in Uzbekistan, including O‘zbekiston-Contact (1964), O‘zbekiston, Vizit Uzbekistan, Turizm olami, Sakvoyaj, Olamaro, Uzbekistan Travel, and Tourism Uzbekistan, as well as inflight magazines such as Uzbekistan Airways and Centrum Travel Magazine. Particular attention is paid to their editorial policies, thematic priorities, genre diversity, language strategies, visual design, target audiences, and role in the international media space. The findings show that tourism journalism in Uzbekistan is developing as an independent specialized media sector with significant communicative potential for shaping the country’s national image, promoting its historical and cultural heritage, and supporting domestic and international tourism. The article also considers the strategic role of inflight magazines in tourism promotion, cultural diplomacy, and national branding, as well as the increasing importance of multimedia technologies, digital platforms, and visual communication tools. The conclusion offers practical recommendations for developing tourism journalism as an academic discipline, training specialized journalists, and improving tourism publications in line with contemporary media trends.