Digital Pathways to Sustainability: Empirical Evidence of Tourism Industry Transformation in the Industry 5.0 Era

Abstract

This research examined the interrelationships between digital transformation, innovative change, and sustainable growth within the Industry 5.0 paradigm in the tourism industry. As the tourism sector transitioned from digitalization to more human-centric, sustainable approaches following the COVID19 pandemic, this study addressed a critical research gap by empirically validating these relationships. A quantitative approach was employed, with data collected from 122 managers across various tourism subsectors using validated measurement scales for digital transformation, innovative change, and sustainable growth. Structural equation modeling revealed that digital transformation had a strong positive impact on innovative change and a moderate direct effect on sustainable growth, while innovative change significantly influenced sustainable growth. The model explained substantial variance in both innovative change and sustainable growth. Additionally, innovative change partially mediated the relationship between digital transformation and sustainable growth. These findings validated theoretical frameworks proposing that digital technologies drive sustainability outcomes through enabling innovation. The research contributed valuable insights for tourism managers and policymakers regarding strategic approaches to digital transformation and innovation in pursuit of sustainable growth in the Industry 5.0 era.