Moderating effects of energy poverty for sustainable tourism, policy, innovation, and environmental resilience: evidence from SEM-ANN approaches

Abstract

The global tourism sector's rapid growth has exerted significant pressure on environmental resources and ecosystems, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions. While previous studies have explored the roles of sustainable tourism practices, effective tourism policies, and technological innovations in enhancing environmental resilience, there is a notable gap in understanding how energy poverty influences these dynamics. This study addresses this gap by examining the moderating role of reduced energy poverty in strengthening the relationships between Sustainable Tourism (ST), Tourism Policy Effectiveness (TPE), Technological Innovations (TI), and Environmental Resilience (ER). Utilizing data from 378 participants, including tourism stakeholders, policymakers, researchers, and environmental specialists in Bangladesh, this research employs a multi-method approach, integrating Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for robust analysis. The findings reveal that ST, TPE, TI, and Less Energy Poverty (LEP) significantly enhance environmental resilience, with LEP acting as a critical moderator that amplifies the positive impacts of these factors. By highlighting energy poverty as a pivotal barrier and a potential enabler, this study contributes to the global discourse on sustainable tourism and environmental management, emphasizing the transformative potential of improved energy access. This research provides a unique global perspective by demonstrating how reducing energy poverty not only fosters environmental resilience in tourism destinations but also serves as a scalable solution for other developing regions. The integration of SEM and ANN further enhances the methodological rigor and ensures the reliability of the findings. As the first study to explore the moderating role of energy poverty in the nexus of sustainable tourism and environmental resilience, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and academics, advocating for global strategies to enhance energy access as a catalyst for sustainable environmental outcomes.