CC BY
16
Nurullaev H.H. assistant teacher Department of "Economy and Tourism "
Oriental University
THE ROLE OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF BUKHARA REGION IN THE DEVELOPING OF TOURISM IN UZBEKISTAN
Abstract. The research examined the role and importance of intangible cultural heritage of Bukhara region in the development of tourism in Uzbekistan. Bukhara is rich of tangible and intangible cultural heritage which is one of the attractive recourse in terms of attracting international tourists to Uzbekistan. The intricate processes of blending the cultural knowledge and traditions of all the tribes and peoples who took part in the establishment of the Uzbek country throughout the ages have resulted in the formation of the traditions of the Uzbek people. They are quite distinctive, vivid and diversified, and come from the patriarchal interactions of clans. As a result of this research, cultural traditions: events, festivals, customs, rituals of Bukhara region are one of the best sustainable resource for tourism industry and it can be play an important role in growing economy in Uzbekistan.
Key words: culture, intangible cultural heritage, tradition, cultural tourism, customs, rituals, heritage, cultural tradition.
Introduction
Over the last few decades Tourism is becoming more crucial industry played an important role on the booming countries' economy. We will concentrate on the importance of intangible cultural heritage in this article as a tourism object and key of the development of tourism in Uzbekistan. "Intangible Cultural Heritage" refers to performing arts, social practices, rituals, and festive occasions, as well as oral traditions and expression, knowledge of nature and traditional crafts. Communities and organizations constantly develop intangible cultural heritage in reaction to their surroundings, the natural world, and history. It is passed down from previous generations to current and future generations. Intangible Cultural Heritage provides communities with a sense of identity. As UNESCO defined intangible cultural heritage is divided into four types: Traditional, contemporary and alive, inclusive, representative, community-based.
The past of the Uzbek people goes back to a long history. During this period, both material and spiritual culture of the people became immortal examples of world civilization. In particular, the intangible cultural heritage of the Uzbek people has been polished by centuries-old ancestors and has been valued as an important subject for further deepening democratic reforms and civil society development.
A lot of international tourists who are from neighbor countries and countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Independent States visit to Uzbekistan in order to see their relatives and friends which have been living in Uzbekistan since the collapse of the former Soviet Union.
Most international tourists who live in Europe, USA, Africa, Asia usually travel to Uzbekistan the purpose of enjoying from historical places such as monuments, ancient buildings, museums which reflects the rich history of Uzbek nation as well as some of them visit in order to enjoy from unique nature. Furthermore, Arabic countries' people visit to Uzbekistan the purpose of pilgrimage. However, very few tourists visit to Uzbekistan in order to enjoy from unique intangible cultural heritage, traditions, customs, rituals. Hence, the aim of this research is to study the intangible cultural heritage of Bukhara as a tourist resource. Moreover, this study aims to investigate the awareness and the tendency towards intangible cultural heritage in Bukhara.
Literature review
Heritage has two primary values: the physical, which is reflected via the built environment, and the ethereal, which is communicated through exchanges within a long-lasting network of relationships. UNESCO defines Intangible Cultural heritage (ICH) as dynamic legacy in which tradition and innovation coexist [19].
Heritage is frequently manifested through tangible assets such as monuments and buildings, with committees and organizations assigning hierarchical classifications based on particular criteria and tactics. According to Smith, the prevalence of this viewpoint has resulted in the generally held belief that conservation is about maintaining recognizable tangible features that are later connected with particular heritage qualities [15]. However, in order to be seen, every concrete culture must be nourished by intangible worth and vice versa [2]. This explains why, in order to preserve cultural variety, the Convention's definition of ICH includes components of tangible heritage (items, artifacts, cultural places) [19].
Intangible heritage values have long been linked to community identities, influencing how physical, visual, and perceived borders are formed [6]. Considering ICH in the context of industrial legacy is significant since the growth of the industry provides a variety of everyday rituals and ways of living in addition to creating superfluous materials [1]. Contrary to popular belief, ICH is not always more fragile than physical assets. In actuality, tangible legacy necessitates money and work to preserve and adapt to contemporary uses. In contrast, intangible heritage demonstrates the greatest durability in constructing identity [10].
To carry out collective memories and the social actions connected to them, physical components frequently play an indispensable part in the expression of ICH [6]. Since our individual memory locates itself in the collection of real or imagined linkages that show exchanges within a robust network of relationships, there may be found a strong connection with concept of "social capital." As a
result, ICH symbolizes a process of "recycling" cultural knowledge and social memory into legacy [14].
The preservation of the ICH has become an even more complicated and political issue as a result of Blake's re-theorization of heritage, particularly when seen in reaction to the UNESCO Convention for safeguarding [3,19]. According to Blake and Jigyasu, focus should be given to the local community in order to ensure the cultural variety's ongoing preservation, transmission, and sustainability [3,6]. Safeguarding is seen as a vital step in maintaining cultural diversity. However, there has been criticism that the legacy system is built on recreating a system of inclusion and exclusion. According to Smith, cultural heritage values are connected to power dynamics and the authority to accept or reject certain cultures [16]. Taylor also casts doubt on the preservation of the ICH as envisioned by UNESCO and contends that the process of "heritagization" is inherently flawed because it emphasizes the concurrent reproduction of various cultural groups as well as "a universalist standardization of culture" with regard to social organization [17,19]. It is said that "rather than preserving, the task seems to be reworking traditional practices" [17]. The importance of ICH in forming local, regional, and even national identities is emphasized in this discussion [14].
The results of Gonzalez's investigation on the connection between existential intangible tourism and individual identity in Spain showed that intangible heritage tourism can offer a source of identity distinct from local locations. In addition, Ma and Wang suggested that ICH knowledge should be converted into tourism goods and in order to maintain it they encouraged three strategies: 1) the establishment of ICH museums that preserve the authenticity of the heritage while presenting it in a static state; 2) the development of ICH theme parks that recreate the authenticity of the heritage while virtualizing the experience space; and 3) the creation of actual scenery stages based on performers' performing activities. One may argue that the greatest method for converting ICH into a tourism product is to stage it in real-world settings [4]. Additionally, Keitumetse and Nthoi showed that in the developing world, granting a place World Heritage designation is likely to promote tourism, therefore the influence on the intangible heritage of those who live there must be taken into account and protected [7]. According to Timothy, tangible and intangible heritage are both key components of the cultural tourism offering, and ICH does actually embody a large portion of the tourism product [18]. Rodzi, Zaki, and Subli examined tourism and ICH and concluded that while tourism draws tourists and benefits people, it can also harm ICH and change it into a cultural good or practice [12]. Tourism, according to the UNWTO, can be a great accelerator for local cultural reproduction and revitalisation, but it can also endanger cultural characteristics that communities want to protect from over-commodification [20]. Smuka conducted structured interviews and observation to look at how the use of ICH affected the growth of the area. The findings showed that activities and events planned in the area did not pay much attention to intangible cultural heritage as a
tourism product, whereas long-term preservation of intangible cultural heritage through tourism fosters the economic and social development of the community [16].
Methodology
The main goal of this study is to investigate the tendency of domestic tourists towards the development of intangible heritage in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The research methodology includes quantitative and quantitative online research, with the first phase consisting of an extensive literature review of intangible heritage and tourism. Online interview is conducted in order to collect data easily from local people. 10 questions are formed with some autobiographic questions and 3 of them required long answers in order to know opinions and perceptions of respondents about current issues of tourism and hospitality industry.
Questions
1.Are you familiar with Bukhara's intangible heritage?
2.Are you interested in getting to know and listening to the Bukhara music school?
3.Are you interested in participating in or watching live Kurash and Kupkari rituals (a traditional sport)?
4.Are you interested in traditional skills of carpet weaving?
5.Are you interested in visiting handicraft workshops and gaining skills in traditional crafts?
6.Are you interested in cooking and tasting local foods?
7. Are you interested in learning about the habits and social customs such as rites and ceremonies related to transition processes in the city (e.g. birth, marriage, death, etc.)?
8.What can be specific benefit to maintain cultural tourism development in Uzbekistan in your opinion?
9.What is the influence of traditions on tourist's opinion and outlooks about Uzbekistan in your opinion?
10. What problems do you think are obstacles to the further development of tourism in Uzbekistan, and what solutions do you offer to them?
Research findings
In total, 64 respondents took part in this research. 60% of them are male and the rest of them are female respondents.
Most respondents reacted "very high" to our 1 -7 questions about intangible cultural heritage such as visiting handicraft workshops, attending, Kurash, Kupkari, cooking and tasting local foods, in learning about the habits and social customs such as rites and ceremonies related to transition processes, listening local music.
What can be specific benefit to maintain cultural tourism development in Uzbekistan in your opinion?
One of them answered "The world should know our history, how many great people have lived in our country, it is necessary to further develop these
things, and the works of writers who wrote about the life and work of our great scholars should be translated into foreign languages and released to the world". Other respondent commented "Uzbekistan does not have all the amenities for tourism, for example, our national-style restaurants are small and do not meet all standards, and the lack of guides must also be addressed", another respondent answered "Tourism is a young industry in Uzbekistan. It is necessary to increase the number of qualified specialists in order to develop these sectors and international tourists should be brought to villages because we can encounter a lot of traditions which we cannot find urban area. It is conclude that there are enough problems in terms of qualified specialists, advertising of cultural heritage in developing cultural tourism in Uzbekistan.
What is the influence of traditions on tourist's opinion and outlooks about Uzbekistan in your opinion?
"If everything is done according to our customs and beliefs, this thing leaves a very good impression on the tourists. unfortunately, in the situations that I have personally witnessed, some of the local cultured people in the quotation marks make fun of the tourists when they see them and make them look stupid (sellers and pushcarts in the Chorsu market), I think such situations makes foreign tourists think that we are uncivilized people " wrote one of respondent. Another attendant of online survey commented "Very positive because every tourist who rests in Uzbekistan remember our traditions and ancient places". In conclusion, our ancient customs and traditions play a very important role in attracting tourists and introducing our culture to the world.
What problems do you think are obstacles to the further development of tourism in Uzbekistan, and what solutions do you offer to them?
One respondent answered "Big festivals should be organized in Uzbekistan, so we can attract more tourists. We should pay close attention to ecology and protect it, because today citizens of many countries suffer due to environmental problems, so more tourists can visit to see our unique nature and beautiful mountains. We should encourage them to come back to our country or advertise to their relatives and friends. Therefore, we should show them more of our customs and traditions by wearing clothes that are symbols of our nationality. " and another one commented "Once again, the problem is that in the education system, it is necessary to pay more attention to practice along with improving the theoretical knowledge of students studying in the field of tourism, because in tourism education, students of some universities do not practice even a time in hotels or tour agencies during 4 years, so they are limited to only theoretical knowledge without practical experience. It is clear that no young generation can come up with a new idea without having some practical skills. " Other respondents complained about poor infrastructure and advertising, investment etc.
Conclusion.
Bukhara is one of the stunning city with full of historical and attractive buildings. With its unrepeatable ancient and cultural heritage, it has been
attracting tourists and the world community for centuries. Historical and pilgrimage tourism is highly developed in Bukhara. Because Seven Pir Pilgrimage, Arch, Labi Hauz, Sitorai Mokhi Khosa and many other historical and pilgrimage structures are located there. However, there are a lot of problems such as poor infrastructure and advertising, investment, lack of enough qualified specialists.
This research work served to provide some insight on the function and significance of culture in the discipline of tourism. Cultural traditions and tourism have a mutually beneficial relationship which can strengthen the attractiveness and competitiveness of places, regions and countries. Cultural traditions are an increasingly important element of the tourism product as they create distinctiveness in a crowded global marketplace. In my opinion the following factors should be further researched about. Education, social standing, religion, personality, belief structure, past experience, affection shown in the home, and a myriad of other factors will affect human behavior and impact on behaviors towards cultural traditions. As well as partnership between tourism and cultural traditions, these factors should also be acknowledged namely to build other forms of partnership, for example with other regions, between the public and private sectors and between a region and its citizens. Links between regions can extend the cultural opportunities available to tourists and help to support new and innovative product offers.
Another issue of interest can be the prospects of working with the private sector because it is essential for attracting investment and continuing to provoke both the cultural traditions and tourism offer. In addition, convincing residents of the benefits of tourism development is increasingly crucial as traditions are needed to form the core of the cultural and creative tourism experience. Last but not least, learning about migrant groups among the resident population can also be worthy topic, not only because cultural diversity adds to the attractiveness of regions, because their links with their cultural traditions can also provide important motivations for visitation. Processes in the global economy in recent years, particularly patterns of rapid expansion of tourism and leisure, have had a significant impact on the Central Asian region, including Uzbekistan, as well as various locations and nations. At the same time, our country's leadership, led by President Sh. Mirziyoyev, is paying close attention to the sector's development, as evidenced by the adoption of legal and regulatory documents, as well as work being done to attract tourists and accelerate the development of tourism infrastructure in the regions, including the adoption of the "Tourism Development Concept in Uzbekistan for 2019-2025." Because, according to this concept, the main goal of Uzbekistan's tourism policy is to lead the tourism sector in the complex accelerated development of regions and infrastructure, achieving urgent socio-economic objectives, increasing jobs, ensuring the diversification and development of regions, improving the income, standard of living, and quality of life of the population, and increasing investment attractiveness. However, it is
currently impossible to judge Uzbekistan's current position in the global tourist sector, as well as the extent to which the country's existing recreational potential - huge tourism - is being effectively utilized. Despite the fact that our country has great tourist potential and opportunities, the range of products available is restricted, and there is evidence of poor regional and provincial engagement.
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