Legal regulation of trade in tourism services within the framework of the World Trade Organization

This monograph explores the international legal framework governing trade in tourism services, with a particular focus on the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the World Trade Organization (WTO). As global trade in services continues to expand, tourism has emerged as a vital sector, contributing significantly to employment, income generation, and balance of payments in many countries. The GATS represents the first multilateral, legally binding agreement to regulate trade in services, including tourism, and to facilitate improved market access for service providers.
The study examines the evolution of international legal regulation of services trade, the classification and characteristics of tourism services under GATS, and the challenges of defining and regulating such services in a complex and interdependent global economy. It analyzes key provisions of the GATS related to market access, national treatment, and domestic regulation, and evaluates how these provisions apply to tourism services.
Special attention is given to the experiences of selected developing countries in implementing GATS commitments in the tourism sector, as well as the implications for Uzbekistan as it prepares for WTO accession. The monograph also addresses the legal and policy considerations Uzbekistan must take into account to align its domestic regulatory framework with WTO standards, particularly in the context of tourism services.
By combining legal analysis with practical insights, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of how international trade law shapes the development of tourism services and offers guidance for policymakers and legal practitioners navigating the intersection of trade, tourism, and international cooperation.