Tourism destination competitiveness and sustainable development: stakeholder perspectives from Kyrgyzstan

Purpose This study examines how sustainability-oriented tourism practices contribute to destination competitiveness in Kyrgyzstan, with particular attention to the governance, infrastructure, environmental, social and behavioural conditions that shape long-term destination performance. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research design was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 key stakeholders representing government institutions, the tourism industry and academia. The interview protocol was theoretically informed and structured around six analytical dimensions: destination competitiveness, sustainable tourism governance and policy, sustainable infrastructure, environmental sustainability, tourist responsibility, and cross-cutting challenges and future development prospects. Interview data were analysed thematically using MAXQDA to identify recurring themes, patterns and relationships. Findings The findings indicate that sustainability-oriented practices can enhance tourism destination competitiveness in Kyrgyzstan when supported by effective governance, adequate and sustainable infrastructure, meaningful local community participation, responsible tourist behaviour, and long-term protection of natural and cultural resources. However, fragmented governance, infrastructure limitations, environmental pressures and insufficient stakeholder coordination constrain the translation of sustainability practices into sustained competitive advantages. Practical implications The findings highlight the need for integrated destination governance, sustainable infrastructure investment, stronger stakeholder collaboration and measures that encourage responsible tourist behaviour and community participation. Originality/value The study contributes context-specific empirical evidence on the sustainability–competitiveness nexus in a developing mountain destination. By integrating stakeholder perspectives across government, industry and academia, it provides a multidimensional understanding of how sustainability can function not only as an environmental objective but also as a strategic foundation for strengthening destination competitiveness in Kyrgyzstan.