A new academic study has identified institutional support as a crucial yet often overlooked factor in achieving long term sustainability within the Maldives’ rapidly expanding guesthouse sector, offering fresh insights for policymakers and tourism industry stakeholders across Small Island Developing States.
The research, titled The Missing Link in Guesthouse Sustainability: Institutional Factors Beyond the Triple Bottom Line, was conducted by Mohamed Shafeeq, Ali Khatibi, S. M. Ferdous Azam and Jacquline Tham. The study explores how governance, regulatory frameworks and institutional support strengthen the sustainability of guesthouse businesses beyond the traditional economic, social and environmental dimensions.
Published in the Journal of Innovation, Digitalisation, Management and Information Systems, the research extends the widely recognised Triple Bottom Line framework by integrating Institutional Theory. The authors argue that sustainable tourism cannot rely solely on financial performance, environmental stewardship and social responsibility, but must also be supported by effective institutions that shape organisational behaviour and resilience.
Using a quantitative cross sectional research design, the researchers surveyed registered guesthouse stakeholders throughout the Maldives. The findings demonstrate that psychological, economic, social and environmental factors all contribute positively to guesthouse sustainability. More importantly, institutional factors were found to significantly enhance these relationships by acting as a partial mediator, reinforcing the importance of governance and policy support.
Lead author Mohamed Shafeeq and his fellow researchers conclude that stronger institutional frameworks, collaborative stakeholder engagement and effective regulation are essential to securing the long term resilience of guesthouse enterprises.
The study provides valuable guidance for governments, tourism authorities and industry leaders seeking to build more sustainable tourism ecosystems, particularly in island economies where tourism remains a cornerstone of economic development.
