A Multi-Criteria Evaluation Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process Technique to Analyze Coastal Tourism Sites

Nowadays all potentials and powers of a land is needed to be considered in a systematic way for a true and sustainable development. In developed and developing countries to achieve this purpose, are reducing economical and social pressures, ecosystem risks and also applying tourism development plans in local, national and international level. Urban tourism development is regarded as one of the branches causes’ of urban development. Site selection for tourism resort in coastal area will be a significant issue in the future mission of urban planning. Therefore, Port Dickson district of Malaysia is selected as the study area where the site suitability applied to determine suitable land for tourism resort. This study was done within Analytic Hierarchy Process technique as a multi-criteria evaluation approach by integrating the Geographic Information System. Microsoft Office Excel 2007 was used to compute weights elements after the Weighted Linear Combination analysis, based on basic factors of social, environmental, economical, accessibility and land use. The result offered six suitable sites, which based on the analysis, can be helpful for future urban plan development. Results can be reviewed by local authorities and used in the tourism planning; and future land use planning to make a better decision in Port Dickson district.