Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026)
Articles

Measuring Tourism Accommodation Efficiency under Environmental and Structural Constraints: A Multi‑Stage DEA–Malmquist Approach for the Valencian Community (Spain)

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  • Carlos Llopis-Albert,
  • Alexandra Mena-Vásquez
Carlos Llopis-Albert
Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Biomechanics-I2MB, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera, s/n, Valencia, 46022, Spain
Alexandra Mena-Vásquez
Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ibarra, 100101, Ecuador.

Published 2026-05-30

Keywords

  • Tourism efficiency; Data Envelopment Analysis; Malmquist index

How to Cite

Llopis-Albert, C., & Mena-Vásquez , A. . . (2026). Measuring Tourism Accommodation Efficiency under Environmental and Structural Constraints: A Multi‑Stage DEA–Malmquist Approach for the Valencian Community (Spain). JOINETECH, 2(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.65479/joinetech.39

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Abstract

Tourism destinations face increasing pressure to remain competitive while adapting to growing environmental and structural constraints. This study develops an integrated framework to assess the efficiency and productivity of tourism accommodation systems across the Comunitat Valenciana (Spain), a mature Mediterranean region characterised by strong coastal concentration, urban diversification and structurally fragile inland areas. Using harmonised annual data for 2015–2023, the analysis combines input‑oriented DEA models with a meta‑frontier specification to capture technological heterogeneity across coastal, urban and inland municipalities. Environmental performance is incorporated through CO₂‑related undesirable outputs, and temporal dynamics are evaluated using the Malmquist Productivity Index, complemented by a second‑stage bootstrap regression that examines the influence of accessibility, tourism density and market composition.

Results reveal pronounced territorial asymmetries. Coastal destinations such as Benidorm, Peñíscola and Alicante operate close to the global efficiency frontier (variable‑returns‑to‑scale scores ≈ 0.95–1.00), whereas inland municipalities remain constrained by scale limitations and weaker technological progress. The COVID‑19 shock generated a sharp productivity decline in 2020, followed by an uneven recovery in which coastal and urban destinations experienced faster technological improvements than inland areas. Environmental efficiency also exhibits a clear territorial divide, with high‑intensity coastal destinations facing proportionally higher CO₂ impacts.

The study advances the literature by integrating environmental pressures and meta‑frontier modelling into a regional tourism efficiency framework, offering a replicable approach for destinations experiencing similar competitive and ecological challenges. The findings highlight the need for differentiated, place‑sensitive policies that strengthen inland connectivity, promote sustainable accommodation structures and support technological upgrading across the regional tourism system.

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