THE IMPACT OF DISTANCE ON WILLINGNESS TO EAT OUT: EVIDENCE FROM SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22437/jiituj.v9i4.43200

Keywords:

Gastronomy Tourism, Food, Factors, Food Tour, Location

Abstract

This study investigates the determinants influencing participation in gastronomic tourism in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, focusing on the role of distance, price satisfaction, and demographic characteristics. Using data collected from 303 respondents, logistic regression and decision tree analyses were applied to assess key behavioral predictors of culinary travel. The results reveal that distance is the most significant factor influencing willingness to engage in gastronomic tourism—individuals willing to travel farther are substantially more likely to seek authentic food experiences. In contrast, satisfaction with food prices and demographic factors such as age, gender, and expenditure levels were found to be statistically insignificant. These findings highlight that logistical accessibility outweighs demographic variables in shaping tourism participation. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence from an emerging destination, emphasizing the importance of mobility and access in gastronomic decision-making. Practical implications include the need for policymakers to improve transportation infrastructure, enhance culinary destination visibility, and promote authentic local food experiences. By strengthening these elements, Uzbekistan can better position itself as a prominent culinary tourism destination in Central Asia. The research also opens opportunities for future studies to explore psychological, cultural, and digital factors influencing food tourism behavior.

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Author Biographies

Charos Makhmadieva, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Khasan Turdibekov, Samarkand Branch of Tashkent University of Economics

Department of Green Economics and Sustainable Business, Samarkand Branch of Tashkent University of Economics, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Muslima Amiriddinova, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Shokhista Toyirova, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Latofat Yuldosheva, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Zarrina Mahmudova, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Sarvar Abdukhamidov, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Aziza Makhmudova, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Rukhshona Rofeeva, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Mekhruza Vafokulova, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage

Department of Tourism, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Rizal Bakri, Makassar State University

Department of Digital Business, Makassar State University, Sulawesi Selatan, Indonesia

Bobur Sobirov, Department of Economics, Samarkand Branch of Tashkent University of Economics

Department of Green Economics and Sustainable Business, Samarkand Branch of Tashkent University of Economics, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Visiting Scholar, College of Business, University of Wyoming, Wyoming, USA

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Published

2025-10-12

How to Cite

Makhmadieva, C., Turdibekov, K., Amiriddinova, M., Toyirova, S., Yuldosheva, L., Mahmudova, Z., … Sobirov, B. (2025). THE IMPACT OF DISTANCE ON WILLINGNESS TO EAT OUT: EVIDENCE FROM SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN. Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Terapan Universitas Jambi, 9(4), 1391–1402. https://doi.org/10.22437/jiituj.v9i4.43200

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 4 (2025): Volume 9, Nomor 4, December 2025

Section

Economic Development

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Charos Makhmadieva, Khasan Turdibekov, Muslima Amiriddinova, Shokhista Toyirova, Latofat Yuldosheva, Zarrina Mahmudova, Sarvar Abdukhamidov, Aziza Makhmudova, Rukhshona Rofeeva, Mekhruza Vafokulova, Rizal Bakri, Bobur Sobirov

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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