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

Maria-del-Mar Alonso-Almeida, Alfredo Rocafort and Fernando Borrajo
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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

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-12

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.

Keywords: eco-innovation; qualitative methodology; content analysis; innovation; ecology; Delphi analysis; ecotourism; hospitality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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