Geospatial Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Hotel Site Suitability Assessment in Minna Metropolis, Nigeria: Integrating Remote Sensing and GIS

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Abstract

The hotel industry's substantial contribution to national economies, particularly in tourism-driven regions, underlines its role in employment generation. However, spatial disparities in hotel distribution, prevalent in many African nations, like Nigeria, necessitate strategic planning for new developments. This study employed a geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework, integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing, to assess hotel site suitability within Minna Metropolis. Utilizing the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), five critical factors, Land Use/Land Cover (LULC), slope, elevation, existing hotel distribution, and road network accessibility, were weighted and integrated via a weighted overlay in ArcGIS 10.8. The resulting suitability map categorized the metropolis into four classes: highly suitable, moderately suitable, less suitable, and not suitable. Findings revealed that over 50% (approximately 76 km²) of Minna Metropolis exhibits moderate to high suitability for hotel development, with LULC, existing hotel density, and road network accessibility identified as the primary influencing factors. This research provides a robust spatial decision support tool for hotel industry professionals and urban planners, offering valuable insights for optimized hotel site selection in similar urbanizing contexts.

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