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Sustainability in Tourism as an Innovation Driver: An Analysis of Family Business Reality

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  • Grazia Chiara Elmo

    (Faculty of Economics, Niccolò Cusano University, Don Carlo Gnocchi Street, 3, I-00166 Rome, Italy)

  • Gabriella Arcese

    (Faculty of Economics, Niccolò Cusano University, Don Carlo Gnocchi Street, 3, I-00166 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Valeri

    (Faculty of Economics, Niccolò Cusano University, Don Carlo Gnocchi Street, 3, I-00166 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefano Poponi

    (Faculty of Economics, Niccolò Cusano University, Don Carlo Gnocchi Street, 3, I-00166 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesco Pacchera

    (Faculty of Economics, Tuscia University, Via del Paradiso Street, 47, I-01100 Viterbo, Italy)

Abstract

Sustainable tourism can be the motivation to manage resources to satisfy environmental, social and economic needs through cultural integrity, biological diversity, ecological processes, social and economic equity, and general enrichment. Based on a systematic literature review conducted on research papers published between 2015 and 2020, and on the case studies contained within them (19 papers), this analysis focuses on the innovation drivers and sustainability drivers identified within family businesses in tourism. This desk-based research has made it possible to highlight how variable sustainability is present, albeit in a limited fashion, within family businesses in tourism; at the same time, it also shows how innovative strategies contribute to sustainable development. From the analysis, the correlations between family businesses, family dynamics, sustainability practices, innovation drivers and case studies were analyzed. The results show the poor implementation of innovative strategies, and at the same time, the presence of other variables that guarantee the adoption of sustainable practices. Important research gaps are identified, and future research priorities are suggested. Furthermore, the article is based on a collection of non-exhaustive literary sources. The implications for both family businesses and sustainable development are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Grazia Chiara Elmo & Gabriella Arcese & Marco Valeri & Stefano Poponi & Francesco Pacchera, 2020. "Sustainability in Tourism as an Innovation Driver: An Analysis of Family Business Reality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:6149-:d:392315
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    2. Hana Urbancová & Pavla Vrabcová, 2023. "Sustainability-oriented Innovation: Crucial Sources to Achieve Competitiveness," Journal of Economics / Ekonomicky casopis, Institute of Economic Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, vol. 71(1), pages 46-64, January.
    3. Chris Roberts & Joel Reynolds & Mary Jo Dolasinski, 2022. "Meta-Analysis of Tourism Sustainability Research: 2019–2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Maria Johann, 2022. "CSR Strategy in Tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, March.
    5. Beatriz Forés & Zélia Breithaupt Janssen & Heitor Takashi Kato, 2021. "A Bibliometric Overview of Tourism Family Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-33, November.
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    7. Obermayer, Nora & Kővári, Edit & Leinonen, Jaana & Bak, Gerda & Valeri, Marco, 2022. "How social media practices shape family business performance: The wine industry case study," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(3), pages 360-371.
    8. Silvia González-Morcillo & Patricia Horrach-Rosselló & Oscar Valero-Sierra & Carles Mulet-Forteza, 2023. "Forgotten effects of active tourism activities in Spain on sustainable development dimensions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 10743-10763, October.
    9. Pahrudin Pahrudin & Li-Wei Liu & Shao-Yu Li, 2022. "What Is the Role of Tourism Management and Marketing toward Sustainable Tourism? A Bibliometric Analysis Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-18, April.
    10. Elżbieta Lewandowicz, 2022. "Indicators of Geographic Potential and Business Opportunities for the Development of Active Tourism: Kayaking in Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    11. Jihye Min & Jerome Agrusa & Joseph Lema & Harold Lee, 2020. "The Tourism Sector and U.S. Regional Macroeconomic Stability: A Network Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-12, September.
    12. Vasco Santos & Maria José Sousa & Carlos Costa & Manuel Au-Yong-Oliveira, 2021. "Tourism towards Sustainability and Innovation: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-20, October.
    13. G. Vecchietti & S. Dyussembayeva & G. Viglia & M. Nassar & O. Untilov, 2025. "It is very traditional, you must try it! The role of traditional breakfast in family-run hotels," Post-Print hal-04922450, HAL.
    14. Wendy Anzules-Falcones & Juan Ignacio Martin-Castilla & Ana Belén Tulcanaza-Prieto, 2025. "Innovation Strategies and Business Networks: A PLS-SEM Analysis in Rural Tourism Entrepreneurship," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-19, July.
    15. Glykeria Myrovali & George Tzanis & Maria Morfoulaki, 2025. "Sustainable Tourism Through Digitalization and Smart Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-21, June.
    16. Deng, JiaYing & Ren, Qin, 2025. "Intergenerational Succession in Family Businesses and the Risk of Corporate Default," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Pechko, Volodymyr & Kovalova, Iryna & Muliukina, Nina & Lyashenko, Halyna & Belous, Iryna, . "Regional development of wine tourism in the context of climate change: the experience of the Odesa region," Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, Agricultural and Resource Economics: International Scientific E-Journal, vol. 10(3).
    18. William Quezado de F. Cavalcante & Arnaldo Coelho & Cristela Maia Bairrada, 2021. "Sustainability and Tourism Marketing: A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications between 1997 and 2020 Using VOSviewer Software," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, April.
    19. Gualter Couto & Rui Alexandre Castanho & Carlos Santos & Pedro Pimentel & Áurea Sousa & Sandra Faria & Maria da Graça Batista, 2021. "Guidelines for Tourism Sustainability in Ultra-Peripheral Territories: A Research Based on the Azores Region’s Touristic Companies’ Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, April.
    20. Ahmed Abdelkader, 2022. "Fusion of Sustainability in the Tourism Industry for Improved Competitiveness: Investigation of Five-Star Hotels in Kuwait," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, November.
    21. Khleef A. Alkhawaldeh, 2021. "The Impact of Innovation on Profitability of Jordanian Services Companies," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 16(1), pages 1-92, August.
    22. Elisabeth Nöhammer & Marco Haid & Philipp Corradini & Susanne Attenbrunner & Peter Heimerl & Robert Schorn, 2022. "Contextual Factors of Resilient Tourism Destinations in a Pandemic Situation: Selected Cases from North and South Tyrol during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, October.
    23. Minja Bolesnikov & Milica Popović Stijačić & Avi Bhargavi Keswani & Nebojša Brkljač, 2022. "Perception of Innovative Usage of AI in Optimizing Customer Purchasing Experience within the Sustainable Fashion Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.

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