ANALYSIS OF THE TOURIST TERRITORIES OF THE PIAUÍ COAST USING THE ANALYTICAL HIERARCHY PROCESS

Abstract The article applies the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate tourism development on the coast of Piauí, Brazil. The assessment of the tourism territories identified on the coast of Piauí was viable due to a quantitative analysis of the region's tourism activity. By quantifying the importance of the variables "means of accommodation," "food services," "tourist attractions," and "access routes" related to the criteria of "cost," "availability," and "quality," it was possible to evaluate each territory. The negative impacts caused by problems related to infrastructure were evident, especially the difficulty of access. AHP proves to be a methodology with the potential to be incorporated into the planning and management process for tourism, as it is effective in characterizing and evaluating territories used by tourism. This study is expected to support the decision-making of municipal and state public authorities concerning the social and environmental impacts of tourism activity on the coast of Piauí, mainly in fragmented territories.