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Eco-Innovation in Tourism: An Overview of a Promising Field of Research

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Innovation, Quality and Sustainability for a Resilient Circular Economy (AISME 2022)

Part of the book series: Circular Economy and Sustainability ((CES))

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Abstract

This paper aims to contribute to the debate on sustainable tourism from the perspective of eco-innovation. Focusing on the challenges of sustainability in tourism, both for companies and destinations, this paper provides a critical reading of the literature on eco-innovation in tourism to derive a state-of-the art and depict roots for the future development of the research. As a complex and integrated system of products and services, tourism is an industry with a large impact on the environment and local communities, and for this reason, it is called on to implement sustainable strategies of development and growth. The challenges of sustainability in tourism can benefit from eco-innovation as a driver for reducing its impacts on the environment, thus contributing to the implementation of a circular economy. Framed in these premises, this paper presents the results of a critical review identifying the main trends structured into (1) energy efficiency and smart mobility; (2) governance, key performance indicators, and socioeconomic performances; (3) industrial ecology and eco-certifications; (4) rural development and circular economy; and (5) intangibles and knowledge-based enablers. Implications arise for theory and practice in terms of eco-innovation strategies and enablers, servitization, and digital transformation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management, Finance and Technology, University LUM Giuseppe Degennaro, Casamassima, BA, Italy

    Pasquale Del Vecchio, Giustina Secundo & Antonello Garzoni

Authors
  1. Pasquale Del Vecchio
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  2. Giustina Secundo
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  3. Antonello Garzoni
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pasquale Del Vecchio .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Giovanni Lagioia

  2. Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Annarita Paiano

  3. Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Vera Amicarelli

  4. Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Teodoro Gallucci

  5. Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

    Carlo Ingrao

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Del Vecchio, P., Secundo, G., Garzoni, A. (2024). Eco-Innovation in Tourism: An Overview of a Promising Field of Research. In: Lagioia, G., Paiano, A., Amicarelli, V., Gallucci, T., Ingrao, C. (eds) Innovation, Quality and Sustainability for a Resilient Circular Economy. AISME 2022. Circular Economy and Sustainability. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28292-8_57

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