Evaluation of AHP and Fuzzy-AHP in Criteria Weighting for Accessible Heritage Tourism: A Simulation Study

Heritage tourism planning normally experiences difficulties in achieving universal accessibility, especially in older cities where cultural monuments are situated within limited and irregular spatial layouts. These environments necessitate inclusive planning practices that take into account the physical, sensory, and cognitive obstacles encountered by various user groups. This research explored the application of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy-AHP) to priorities accessibility requirements for determining a pedestrian route in heritage tourism regions. Based on MS1184:2014 and the UNCRPD, a hierarchical framework was established which included three main criteria of mobility and navigation, comforts, and accessibility features, as well as seven sub criteria. Both decision-making models were constructed and analyzed using a simulated pairwise comparison data. The results suggest that, while AHP provides a logical consistency and simplicity, Fuzzy-AHP has a stronger ability to express ambiguity and complexity in expert judgement which giving a larger weight to moderately valued qualities. Although based on simulated data, the study demonstrates the importance of fuzzy-based decision tools in capturing stakeholder variability and promoting inclusive planning. The proposed framework provides a methodological foundation for future empirical research and decision-support systems focused on achieving equitable and sustainable accessibility in heritage tourism settings.