What configurational conditions promote tourism eco-transformation? a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis based on the TOE framework

Abstract

Tourism eco-transformation can provide a long-lasting competitive advantage. However, successful transformation is a challenge for both academia and industry. The literature has focused on the net effect of a single factor. Still, we build on the Technology-Organization-Environment framework and propose that tourism eco-transformation does not depend on a single condition but the configurational effect of organization, environment, and technology. We found six conditions that influence eco-transformation in Chinese provinces. The results show that 1) the tourism eco-transformation in China from 2016 to 2019 “declines first and then rises,” indicating a “U” shape. Spatial distribution is stable; 2) We can classify the high-level transformation model into four configurational types: technology-pulling organization, proactive organization, environmental stress organization, and comprehensive organization. Not-high-level transformation model can be categorized as comprehensive absence and respectable; 3) There are three critical conditions for tourism external connections, environmental regulation, and tourism ecology promotion. In contrast, digital information level, technology innovation capability, and tourism resource endowment are largely determined based on the specific situation. We explore high-level and not-high-level configurational paths of tourism eco-transformation and gain new theoretical insights. We also guide tourism managers to choose or modify high-level tourism eco-transformation paths based on local characteristics to avoid not-high-level tourism eco-transformation situations.