Biotech-enabled and neuroadaptive robotics in sustainable elderly tourism services: a delphi and PLS-SEM approach

Ensuring sustainable and inclusive service delivery for older adults is a critical challenge in the tourism industry. While service robots are increasingly integrated into tourism operations, limited research examines how leadership and technological innovation jointly promote sustainable outcomes. This study investigates how Green Transformational Leadership (GTL) facilitates the development of neuroadaptive capability (NC) and biotech sensing capability (BSC) in intelligent robotics to enhance eco-operational sustainability (EOS) and improve elderly well-being (EWB). A three-round Delphi study with fifteen interdisciplinary experts refined nine indicators tailored to elderly-focused ecotourism settings. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from stakeholders in Kunming, China, results show that GTL significantly strengthens NC (β = 0.664, p < 0.001) and BSC (β = 0.137, p < 0.01), which together enhance EOS. EOS positively affects EWB and indirectly contributes to green competitive advantage. Findings demonstrate how leadership-driven robotic innovation fosters eco-intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable tourism services.