Unlocking sustainable competitive advantage: exploring the impact of technological innovations on performance in Mexican SMEs within the tourism sector

Ana León-Gómez (), José Manuel Santos-Jaén (), Mercedes Palacios-Manzano () and Héctor Horacio Garza-Sánchez ()
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Ana León-Gómez: University of Malaga
José Manuel Santos-Jaén: University of Murcia
Mercedes Palacios-Manzano: University of Murcia
Héctor Horacio Garza-Sánchez: University of Nuevo Leon

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2025, vol. 27, issue 2, No 32, 3511 pages

Abstract: Abstract This research inquiry explores the interplay between environmentally sustainable practices, technological innovations and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) performance in Mexico's tourism sector. The tourism industry in Mexico holds immense economic significance, contributing significantly to employment and revenue generation. However, the sector also faces challenges related to environmental sustainability. Thus, the objective of this research is to assess how the integration of sustainable environmental practices influences the operational outcomes of SMEs. Furthermore, it also aims to conclude the role of technological innovation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), digitalization and gender in this relationship. A structural equation modeling approach was applied to a sample of 797 Mexican SMEs in the tourism sector. Our findings provide evidence of several contributions: first, environmental sustainability practices improve performance; second, technological innovation, ICT and digitalization play a critical mediating role in specific relationships to foster performance; finally, incentives encourage sustainable practices related to environmental improvement, especially when the SME's CEO is a woman. The results of this study hold practical significance for the SME sector, as it demonstrates that by adopting sustainable practices, SMEs can strengthen their market position, improve technological innovativeness, minimize environmental impact and capitalize on emerging business prospects.

Keywords: Environmental sustainability; Technological innovation; Performance; PLS-SEM; Information and communication technologies (ICT); Digitalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04025-y

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