Sustainability communication through interpretation in built cultural heritage sites: a comparative assessment of the ark palace (Bukhara, Uzbekistan) and Bratislava castle (Slovakia)

A comparative analysis of sustainability communication at two fortified palace complexes reveals significant gaps between potential and actual interpretive content. The study, using an original Sustainability Technical Communication (STC) framework with 36 variables across four dimensions—interpretation technical conditions, environmental, socio-cultural, and economic sustainability—found that only about half of the sustainability information (53.9% at Ark Palace in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, and 60.9% at Bratislava Castle, Slovakia) was actively communicated to visitors despite higher overall scores (75.9% and 76.7%, respectively). Notably, waste management, energy saving, and carbon footprint reduction were entirely absent from interpretive means at both sites. The research highlights the need for sustainability interpretation plans aligned with international guidelines, operational integration of environmental content, and a shift toward participatory and awareness-raising approaches over purely informational ones.

Radjabov, O., Vilčeková, L., & Gubíniová, K. (2026). Sustainability communication through interpretation in built cultural heritage sites: a comparative assessment of the ark palace (Bukhara, Uzbekistan) and Bratislava castle (Slovakia). Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsut.2026.1895823