ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
This study investigates the structural relationships between Green MICE, Smart Tourism, Destination Sustainability, and Destination Competitive Advantage in Batam City, a strategic cross-border MICE hub. Utilizing a quantitative design with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), empirical data were collected from 170 qualified supply-side MICE practitioners, including venue managers, hotel executives, and event organizers. The structural path analysis reveals that Green MICE does not exert a direct significant effect on destination sustainability due to municipal infrastructure bottlenecks and early-stage operational adoption. However, Green MICE significantly enhances destination competitive advantage by serving as a key strategic market differentiator. Conversely, Smart Tourism demonstrates a strong, positive, and significant impact on both destination sustainability and competitive advantage, acting as an indispensable dual-engine catalyst. Theoretically, this research highlights digital capability as the vital operational foundation needed to convert pro-environmental commitments into actual destination sustainability within emerging border regions. Practically, local authorities and industry actors in Batam must establish standardized green policies, upgrade eco-friendly infrastructure, and synthesize smart technology applications to secure long-term competitiveness.
Adepoju, A. P., & Yesilada, F. (2026). Examining the antecedents of green hotel consumer behavior: The mediating-moderating role of information-seeking behavior in green hotel preferences. Sustainability, 18(3), Article 1435. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18031435
Agerskans, N. (2026). Towards smart and sustainable production: A conceptual framework for sustainability considerations in digital technology selection and integration. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 1342(1), Article 012041. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/1342/1/012041
Ahmad, R. N., Sutama, I. K., Mudana, I. G., & Murni, N. G. N. S. (2021). Green meeting implementation at The Apurva Kempinski Bali. International Journal of Green Tourism Research and Applications, 3(2), 77–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.31940/ijogtra.v3i2.77-85
Akbaba, A. (2024). Conclusion: Sustainability, smart tourism destinations and evolving visitor preferences. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, 16(6), 887–894. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-09-2024-0216
An, J., Kim, H., & Hur, D. (2021). Keeping the competitive edge of a convention and exhibition center in MICE environment: Identification of event attributes for long-run success. Sustainability, 13(9), Article 5030. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095030
Anas, M. S., Maddiah, N. A., Noor Eizamly, N. U. E., Sulaiman, N. A., & Wee, H. (2020). Key success factors toward MICE industry: A systematic literature review. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 12(1), 188–221.
Fahlevi, R., Hanny, Riyadi, A., Ariyanto, H. H., & Putra, M. Z. D. (2025). Service quality and perceived price fairness as determinants of customer loyalty in the MICE industry: Evidence from Batam, Indonesia. In The 5th International Conference on Tourism, Gastronomy, and Tourist Destination (pp. 260–271). KnE Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v10i29.20270
Gössling, S. (2021). Tourism, technology and ICT: A critical review of affordances and concessions. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(5), 733–750. https://doi.org/10.1088/09669582.2021.1873353
Gultom, L. K., Rinaldi, A. R., & Setiawati, Y. (2025). Sustainable practices in the MICE industry: Strategies and challenges for green meetings in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of Tourism and Leisure, 6(1), 59–75. https://doi.org/10.36256/ijtl.v6i1.508
Hair, J., & Alamer, A. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in second language and education research: Guidelines using an applied example. Research Methods in Applied Linguistics, 1(3), Article 100027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmal.2022.100027
Higgins-Desbiolles, F., Bigby, B. C., & Doering, A. (2022). Socialising tourism after COVID-19: Reclaiming tourism as a social force? Journal of Tourism Futures, 8(2), 208–219. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-03-2021-0058
Kaewsaengorn, S., Cheablam, O., Krivart, K., Sookhom, A., & Kaosiri, Y. N. (2026). Toward a sustainable MICE destination: A triangulated mixed-methods assessment of quality readiness, tourist perceptions, and stakeholder governance. Tourism and Hospitality, 7(2), Article 31. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp7020031
Khelashvili, I., & Okroshidze, L. (2025). Exploring the tourism competitiveness of a destination: A case study of Georgia. Sustainability, 17(8), Article 3342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083342
Krisnadi, A. R., & Dewantara, Y. F. (2018). Analisis strategi pengembangan pariwisata di MICE Kota Batam. Jurnal Fame, 1(1), 1–91.
Kusumo, H. K. E., Lemy, D. M., Hulu, M., Kurniawan, J., & Juliana, J. (2026). Sustainable hospitality in protected areas: The role of perceived eco-social performance in fostering community pro-sustainable tourism intention through community, environmental attachment. Tourism and Hospitality, 7(5), Article 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/tourhosp7050140
Lee, C.-C., Chen, M.-P., Wu, W., & Xing, W. (2021). The impacts of ICTs on tourism development: International evidence based on a panel quantile approach. Information Technology & Tourism, 23(4), 509–547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40558-021-00215-4
Li, W., Sun, J., Li, G., & Meng, W. (2026). Industrial linkages between the digital economy and tourism and their carbon footprint effects: Evidence from multi-year input–output analysis in China. Sustainability, 18(8), Article 4023. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18084023
Mannheim, V., & Lovasné Avató, J. (2025). Examining the carbon footprint of conferences with an emphasis on energy consumption and catering. Energies, 18(2), Article 321. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18020321
Neugebauer, S., Bolz, M., Mankaa, R., & Traverso, M. (2020). How sustainable are sustainability conferences? Comprehensive life cycle assessment of an international conference series in Europe. Journal of Cleaner Production, 242, Article 118516. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118516
Pemko Batam. (2025, July 24). Pemko Batam dorong 5 pilar pengembangan sektor MICE. Media Center Pemerintah Kota Batam. https://mediacenter.batam.go.id/2025/07/24/
Sharma, P., Sarstedt, M., Shmueli, G., Kim, K. H., & Thiele, K. O. (2019). PLS-based model selection: The role of alternative explanations in information systems research. Journal of the Association for Information Systems, 20(4), 346–397.
Tirtawati, D. P., Sunarta, I. N., Mananda, I. G. P. B. S., & Wiranatha, A. S. (2024). Unveiling potentials and overcoming obstacles: Exploring the feasibility of green-hybrid conference management post-COVID-19 in Bali. Journal of MICE and Destination Management, 8(1), 45–58.
Wu, S., Hong, Y., Jia, Y., Wang, J., & Xu, X. (2023). Analysis on spatial structure characteristics and influencing factors of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region MICE cities. PLoS ONE, 18(7), Article e0287695. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287695
Hanny, Arafah, W., Riyadi, A., & Ariyanto4, H. H. (2026). Green Mice and Smart Tourism Development Model to Support Competitive and Sustainable Tourism in Batam City. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 16(9), 1292–1303.
Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode