IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v8y2016i12p1262-d84387.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Shedding Light on Eco-Innovation in Tourism: A Critical Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Maria-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida

    (Business Organization Department, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain)

  • Alfredo Rocafort

    (Accountability Department, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08007, Spain)

  • Fernando Borrajo

    (Business Organization Department, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28049, Spain)

Abstract

The recent global increase in the competitiveness of tourism has made the implementation of eco-innovations a differentiating element among both the destinations and companies in the sector, with quality management and contribution to sustainable development being increasingly valued. However, the eco-innovations that have been developed and implemented in tourist industries have rarely been studied. In this study, the eco-innovations that have been developed and implemented by 57 tourism businesses worldwide are analysed. The identified eco-innovations are classified by using different qualitative methodologies. The obtained results shed light on the limited development of eco-innovations in the tourism industry and the industry focuses mainly on product eco-innovations. Several examples by the tourist sub-industry and types of eco-innovation are analysed. Furthermore, this study provides practical information about measures that both businesses and governmental organisations can adopt to promote eco-innovation in the sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida & Alfredo Rocafort & Fernando Borrajo, 2016. "Shedding Light on Eco-Innovation in Tourism: A Critical Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:12:p:1262-:d:84387
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/12/1262/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/8/12/1262/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eva Carmona-Moreno & José Céspedes-Lorente & Jerónimo De Burgos-Jiménez, 2004. "Environmental strategies in spanish hotels: contextual factors and performance," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(3), pages 101-130, May.
    2. Horbach, Jens & Rammer, Christian & Rennings, Klaus, 2012. "Determinants of eco-innovations by type of environmental impact — The role of regulatory push/pull, technology push and market pull," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 112-122.
    3. Giulio Cainelli & Massimiliano Mazzanti & Roberto Zoboli, 2011. "Enviromental Innovations, Complementarity and Local/Global Cooperation," Working Papers 201104, University of Ferrara, Department of Economics.
    4. María del Mar Alonso‐Almeida & Josep Llach & Frederic Marimon, 2014. "A Closer Look at the ‘Global Reporting Initiative’ Sustainability Reporting as a Tool to Implement Environmental and Social Policies: A Worldwide Sector Analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(6), pages 318-335, November.
    5. Chen, Chung-Jen & Huang, Jing-Wen, 2009. "Strategic human resource practices and innovation performance -- The mediating role of knowledge management capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 104-114, January.
    6. Frans Berkhout, 2005. "Technological Regimes, Environmental Performance and Innovation Systems: Tracing the Links," Springer Books, in: Matthias Weber & Jens Hemmelskamp (ed.), Towards Environmental Innovation Systems, pages 57-80, Springer.
    7. Triguero, Angela & Moreno-Mondéjar, Lourdes & Davia, María A., 2013. "Drivers of different types of eco-innovation in European SMEs," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 25-33.
    8. Inyong Shin & Won-Moo Hur & Seongho Kang, 2016. "Employees’ Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility and Job Performance: A Sequential Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-12, May.
    9. Álvarez Gil, M. J. & Burgos Jiménez, J. & Céspedes Lorente, J. J., 2001. "An analysis of environmental management, organizational context and performance of Spanish hotels," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 457-471, December.
    10. Josep Llach & Maria Del Mar Alonso‐Almeida & Antoni García‐Castellví & Llorenç Bagur‐Femenias, 2015. "A Fresh Approach to Context Influence, Development and Performance in Environmental Management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(8), pages 855-872, December.
    11. Kim Ceulemans & Rodrigo Lozano & María Del Mar Alonso-Almeida, 2015. "Sustainability Reporting in Higher Education: Interconnecting the Reporting Process and Organisational Change Management for Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-23, July.
    12. Ann Goodman, 2000. "Implementing Sustainability in Service Operations at Scandic Hotels," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 202-214, June.
    13. Jean-Luc Giannelloni & Elisabeth Robinot, 2010. "Do hotels' "green" attributes contribute to customer satisfaction?," Post-Print hal-00962449, HAL.
    14. Horng, Jeou-Shyan & Chou, Sheng-Fang & Liu, Chih-Hsing & Tsai, Chang-Yen, 2013. "Creativity, aesthetics and eco-friendliness: A physical dining environment design synthetic assessment model of innovative restaurants," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 15-25.
    15. Wei-Chiang Hong, 2008. "Competitiveness in the Tourism Sector," Contributions to Economics, Springer, number 978-3-7908-2042-3.
    16. Si-Hua Chen, 2016. "The Influencing Factors of Enterprise Sustainable Innovation: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-17, April.
    17. Muscio, Alessandro & Nardone, Gianluca & Stasi, Antonio, 2013. "Drivers of Eco-Innovation in the Italian Wine Industry," 2013 International European Forum, February 18-22, 2013, Innsbruck-Igls, Austria 164752, International European Forum on System Dynamics and Innovation in Food Networks.
    18. Popp, David, 2006. "International innovation and diffusion of air pollution control technologies: the effects of NOX and SO2 regulation in the US, Japan, and Germany," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 46-71, January.
    19. Oecd, 2013. "Green Innovation in Tourism Services," OECD Tourism Papers 2013/1, OECD Publishing.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Adina-Raluca Sibian & Ana Ispas, 2021. "An Approach to Applying the Ability-Motivation-Opportunity Theory to Identify the Driving Factors of Green Employee Behavior in the Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Sotiriadis, Marios & Magadán-Díaz, Marta & Rivas-García, Jesús, 2018. "Drivers of eco-innovation and economic development in the Spanish hospitality industry," MPRA Paper 99161, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. José Miguel Rodríguez-Antón & María del Mar Alonso-Almeida, 2019. "The Circular Economy Strategy in Hospitality: A Multicase Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-14, October.
    4. Miguel Ángel Montañés-Del-Río & José Aurelio Medina-Garrido, 2020. "Determinants of the Propensity for Innovation among Entrepreneurs in the Tourism Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Magadán-Díaz, Marta & Sotiriadis, Marios & Rivas-García, Jesús, 2019. "Drivers of eco-innovation in the Spanish hospitality industry," MPRA Paper 94090, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Fernando Borrajo-Millán & María-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida & María Escat-Cortes & Liu Yi, 2021. "Sentiment Analysis to Measure Quality and Build Sustainability in Tourism Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-14, May.
    7. Juliana Langgat & Boumediene Ramdani & Suzana Pavic & Evren Tok, 2023. "Environmentally Sustainable Practices and Hotel Performance: Evidence from Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-15, March.
    8. José Luís Lopes & Leonardo Fernando Cruz Basso, 2023. "The Impact of Eco-Innovation Adoption on Business Performance—A Study of the Hospitality Sector in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-25, May.
    9. Fang-Hua Chen & Chang-Ching Tsai & Pei-Yin Chung & Wei-Shuo Lo, 2022. "Sustainability Learning in Education for Sustainable Development for 2030: An Observational Study Regarding Environmental Psychology and Responsible Behavior through Rural Community Travel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-17, February.
    10. Johannes Enzmann & Marc Ringel, 2020. "Reducing Road Transport Emissions in Europe: Investigating A Demand Side Driven Approach †," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-31, September.
    11. Joanna Trafialek & Ewa Czarniecka-Skubina & Jurgita Kulaitiené & Nijolė Vaitkevičienė, 2019. "Restaurant’s Multidimensional Evaluation Concerning Food Quality, Service, and Sustainable Practices: A Cross-National Case Study of Poland and Lithuania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-21, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sanni, Maruf, 2018. "Drivers of eco-innovation in the manufacturing sector of Nigeria," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 303-314.
    2. Pilar Portillo-Tarragona & Sabina Scarpellini & Jose M. Moneva & Jesus Valero-Gil & Alfonso Aranda-Usón, 2018. "Classification and Measurement of the Firms’ Resources and Capabilities Applied to Eco-Innovation Projects from a Resource-Based View Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Caroline Danièle Mothe & Thuc Uyen Nguyen-Thi, 2017. "Persistent openness and environmental innovation: An empirical analysis of French manufacturing firms," Post-Print hal-01609129, HAL.
    4. João Leitão & Sónia de Brito & Serena Cubico, 2019. "Eco-Innovation Influencers: Unveiling the Role of Lean Management Principles Adoption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-27, April.
    5. Gotsch, Matthias & Kelnhofer, Anton & Jäger, Angela, 2019. "Environmental product innovations and the digital transformation of production: Analysing the influence that digitalising production has on generating environmental product innovations," Working Papers "Sustainability and Innovation" S07/2019, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI).
    6. Yang, Fuxia & Yang, Mian, 2015. "Analysis on China's eco-innovations: Regulation context, intertemporal change and regional differences," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(3), pages 1003-1012.
    7. Raquel Ortega-Lapiedra & Miguel Marco-Fondevila & Sabina Scarpellini & Fernando Llena-Macarulla, 2019. "Measurement of the Human Capital Applied to the Business Eco-Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-16, June.
    8. Valeria Costantini & Francesco Crespi & Alessandro Palma, 2015. "Characterizing the policy mix and its impact on eco-innovation in energy-efficient technologies," SEEDS Working Papers 1115, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Jun 2015.
    9. Aldieri, Luigi & Kotsemir, Maxim & Vinci, Concetto Paolo, 2017. "Jacobian spillovers in environmental technological proximity: the role of Mahalanobis index on European patents within the Triad," MPRA Paper 77274, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Li-Ying, Jason & Mothe, Caroline & Nguyen, Thi Thuc Uyen, 2018. "Linking forms of inbound open innovation to a driver-based typology of environmental innovation: Evidence from French manufacturing firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 51-63.
    11. Jana Hojnik, 2017. "In Pursuit of Eco-innovation," UPP Monograph Series, University of Primorska Press, number 978-961-7023-53-4.
    12. Yusuf Yılmaz & Engin Üngüren & Yaşar Yiğit Kaçmaz, 2019. "Determination of Managers’ Attitudes Towards Eco-Labeling Applied in the Context of Sustainable Tourism and Evaluation of the Effects of Eco-Labeling on Accommodation Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-27, September.
    13. Triguero, Angela & Moreno-Mondéjar, Lourdes & Davia, María A., 2014. "The influence of energy prices on adoption of clean technologies and recycling: Evidence from European SMEs," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 246-257.
    14. Antonella Biscione & Raul Caruso & Annunziata de Felice, 2021. "Environmental innovation in European transition countries," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(5), pages 521-535, January.
    15. Ghisetti, Claudia & Pontoni, Federico, 2015. "Investigating policy and R&D effects on environmental innovation: A meta-analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 57-66.
    16. Amandine Pinget & Rachel Bocquet & Caroline Mothe, 2015. "Barriers to Environmental Innovation in SMEs: Empirical Evidence from French Firms," Post-Print hal-01300837, HAL.
    17. Jason Li-Ying & Caroline Mothe & Uyen Nguyen-Thi, 2018. "Linking forms of inbound open innovation to a driver-based typology of environmental innovation: Evidence from French manufacturing firms," Post-Print hal-01695525, HAL.
    18. Valeria Costantini & Francesco Crespi & Giovanni Marin & Elena Paglialunga, 2016. "Eco-innovation, sustainable supply chains and environmental performance in European industries," LEM Papers Series 2016/19, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    19. Stojčić, Nebojša, 2021. "Social and private outcomes of green innovation incentives in European advancing economies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    20. Durán-Romero, Gemma & López, Ana M. & Beliaeva, Tatiana & Ferasso, Marcos & Garonne, Christophe & Jones, Paul, 2020. "Bridging the gap between circular economy and climate change mitigation policies through eco-innovations and Quintuple Helix Model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:12:p:1262-:d:84387. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.