Green Innovation and Competitiveness of Chinese Hospitality Enterprises: Evidence from Regional Clusters
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64976/jbtm.2025.005Keywords:
green innovation, competitiveness, hospitality industry, regional clusters, ChinaAbstract
Green innovation has become an essential driver of competitiveness in the global hospitality industry, particularly in rapidly developing economies such as China. This study explores the relationship between green innovation and competitiveness among hospitality enterprises in China, with special attention to the role of regional industrial clusters. Drawing upon peer-reviewed literature, official reports, and recent empirical studies (2015–2025), the paper identifies how eco-innovation practices—such as energy efficiency, waste management, and sustainable supply chains—enhance operational performance, brand reputation, and long-term resilience. The analysis reveals that enterprises embedded in regional clusters (e.g., Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Hainan) exhibit stronger adoption of green innovation due to knowledge spillovers, government incentives, and collaboration among firms. However, barriers remain, including financing constraints, fragmented regulation, and uneven diffusion of digital technologies. Policy and managerial recommendations are proposed to strengthen green innovation ecosystems, foster cross-regional collaboration, and align hospitality enterprises with China’s national carbon neutrality goals.
Downloads
References
Chan, E. S. W., Hon, A. H. Y., Chan, W., & Okumus, F. (2014). What drives employees’ intentions to implement green practices in hotels? The role of knowledge, awareness, concern and ecological behaviour. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 40, 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2014.03.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2014.03.001
Chen, Y.-S. (2008). The driver of green innovation and green image – Green core competence. Journal of Business Ethics, 81(3), 531–543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9522-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9522-1
Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Capstone. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tqem.3310080106
Han, H., Hsu, L.-T. J., & Sheu, C. (2010). Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 29(2), 325–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2009.10.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2009.03.013
Hsiao, T.-Y., Chuang, C.-M., Kuo, N.-W., & Yu, S. M.-F. (2014). Establishing attributes of an environmental management system for green hotel evaluation. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 36, 197–208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2013.09.005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2013.09.005
Jones, P., Hillier, D., & Comfort, D. (2016). Sustainability in the hospitality industry: Some personal reflections on corporate challenges and research agendas. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 28(1), 36–67. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-05-2014-0230 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-11-2014-0572
Leonidou, C. N., Katsikeas, C. S., & Morgan, N. A. (2013). Greening the marketing mix: Do greeners lead to greener? International Journal of Business Research, 66(9), 1899–1907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2013.02.001
Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition. Harvard Business Review, 76(6), 77–90.
World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). (2023). Travel & Tourism economic impact 2023: China. WTTC. https://wttc.org
Youssef, A. B., Leicht, T., Pelham, A., & Jain, R. (2018). The impact of green innovation on firm performance and competitive advantage: Evidence from the hospitality industry. Journal of Business Research, 86, 190–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.11.016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2017.11.016
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Wang Wei, Zhang Wei

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.