This paper analyses the importance of environmental innovations as a key competitiveness factor for tourism firms in the Balearic Islands. Empirical evidence from a sample of tourism firms confirms the importance of environmental innovation, especially in the lodging and accommodation sector and as firm size and/or scale of operations increases. Firms belonging to a corporation are more environmentally innovative than independent firms. Environmental innovations are mainly process and technological ones. When investing in new destinations, Balearic hotel chains transfer and incorporate environmental technologies in new establishments. Finally, the main objectives when introducing environmental innovations are to satisfy customer needs and to improve service quality and the image and competitiveness of the firm.
AguilóE.AlegreJ.SardM. (2005a), ‘The persistence of the sun and sand tourism model’, Tourism Management, Vol 26, pp 219–231.
2.
AguilóE.RieraA.RossellóJ. (2005b), ‘The short-term price effect of a tourist tax through a dynamic demand model. The case of the Balearic Islands’, Tourism Management, Vol 26, pp 359–365.
3.
AlegreJ.CladeraM. (2006), ‘Repeat visitation in mature sun and sand holiday destinations’, Journal of Travel Research, Vol 44, pp 288–297.
4.
AlegreJ.PouL. (2006), ‘The length of stay in the demand for tourism’, Tourism Management, Vol 27, pp 1343–1355.
5.
Álvarez GilM.J.Burgos JiménezJ.Céspedes LorenteJ.J. (2001), ‘An analysis of environmental management, organizational context and performance of Spanish hotels’, Omega, Vol 29, pp 457–471.
ButlerR. (1980), ‘The concept of tourist-area cycle of evolution and implications for management’, Canadian Geographer, Vol 24, No 1, pp 5–12.
8.
CamisónC. (1996), ‘La empresa turística: Un análisis estratégico’, in Pedreño MuñozA., ed, and Monfort MirV.M., coord, Introducción a la Economía de Turismo en España, Editorial Civitas, Madrid.
9.
CohenW.M.LevinR.C. (1989), ‘Empirical studies of innovation and market structure’, in SchmalenseeR.WilligR., eds, Handbook of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
10.
DarrE.ArgoteL.EppleD. (1995), ‘The acquisition, transfer and depreciation of knowledge in service organizations: Productivity in franchises’, Management Science, Vol 32, No 11, pp 1422–1433.
11.
De RusG.LeónC.J. (1997), ‘Economía del turismo. Un panorama’, Revista de Economía Aplicada, Vol 15, No V, pp 71–109.
12.
Exceltur (2007), Impactur Illes Balears 2006. Estudio del impacto económico del turismo sobre la economía y el empleo: Resumen de los principales efectos e indicadores, Exceltur, Madrid.
13.
GonzálezM.LeónC.J. (2001), ‘The adoption of environmental innovations in the hotel industry of Gran Canaria’, Tourism Economics, Vol 7, No 2, pp 177–190.
14.
GrayB.G.MatearS.M.MathesonP.K. (2000), ‘Improving the performance of hospitality firms’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol 12, No 3, pp 149–155.
15.
GreenH.HunterC. (1992), ‘The environmental impact assessment of tourism development’, in JohnsonP.ThomasB., eds, Perspectives on Tourism Policy, Mansell, London, pp 29–47.
16.
HippC.TetherB.S.MilesI. (2000), ‘The incidence and effects of innovation in services: Evidence from Germany’, International Journal of Innovation Management, Vol 4, No 4, pp 417–453.
17.
HjalagerA.M. (1998), ‘Environmental regulation of tourism: Impact on business innovation’, Progress in Tourism and Hospitality, Vol 4, pp 17–30.
18.
IngramP.BaumJ. (1997), ‘Chain affiliation and the failure of Manhattan hotels, 1898–1980’, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol 42, pp 68–102.
19.
JacobM.GroizardJ.L. (2007), ‘Technology transfer and multinationals: The case of Balearic hotel chains' investments in two developing economies’, Tourism Management, Vol 28, pp 976–992.
20.
JacobM.TintoréJ.AguilóE.BravoA.MuletJ. (2003), ‘Innovation in the tourist sector: Results from a pilot study in the Balearic Islands’, Tourism Economics, Vol 9, No 3, pp 279–295.
21.
JacobM.TintoréJ.SimonetR.AguilóE. (2004), Pautas de Innovación en el sector turístico balear, Colección Estudios No 25, Fundación Cotec, Madrid.
22.
Medina-MuñozR.D.Medina-MuñozD.R.García-FalcónJ.M. (2003), ‘Understanding European tour operators' control on accommodation companies: An empirical evidence’, Tourism Management, Vol 24, No 2, pp 135–147.
23.
OECD (2005), Oslo Manual: Guidelines for Collecting and Interpreting Innovation Data, 3rd edition, OECD, Paris.
24.
Orfila-SintesF. (2003), ‘La gestión del cambio tecnológico en la actividad hotelera’, PhD Thesis, Universitat de les Illes Balears.
25.
SundboJ.Orfila-SintesF.SørensenF. (2007), ‘The innovative behavior of tourism firms – comparative studies of Denmark and Spain’, Research Policy, Vol 36, pp 88–106.
26.
TintoréJ.JacobM.DuarteC. (2003), ‘Medi ambient i sostenibilitat a les Illes Balears: Un repte pel segle 21’, Informe Económic i Social de les Illes Balears 2002, Sa Nostra, Palma de Mallorca.
