Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Through Open Innovation: The Mediating Role of Competitive Advantage

This study aims to analyze the effect of Open Innovation on Sustainable Tourism with Competitive Advantage as a mediating variable in tourism businesses in Riau Islands. The study employed a quantitative approach using an explanatory, cross-sectional survey design. The sample consisted of 250 tourism business actors, namely business owners or managers, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through online questionnaires, structured interviews, and five-point Likert-scale measurements. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS 26; path significance and mediation decisions were interpreted using p-values. The results indicate that Open Innovation has a positive and significant effect on Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Tourism. In contrast, Competitive Advantage does not have a significant effect on Sustainable Tourism and does not mediate the relationship between Open Innovation and Sustainable Tourism. The findings imply that stronger collaboration, external learning, and open innovation practices are crucial for advancing tourism sustainability. The study is limited by its cross-sectional design, its geographic focus on Riau Islands, and the use of a single mediator. Future research is recommended to adopt a longitudinal design, include variables such as green innovation capability or government policy, and expand the research setting. The originality of this study lies in testing the relationship among Open Innovation, Competitive Advantage, and Sustainable Tourism in the context of tourism MSMEs in Riau Islands.

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Open Innovation, Competitive Advantage, Sustainable Tourism

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Enhancing Sustainable Tourism Through Open Innovation: The Mediating Role of Competitive Advantage

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