ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HOSPITALITY SECTOR IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

This study explored the relationship between artificial intelligence and sustainable development of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the relationship between alexa and community engagement of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. Also, it ascertained the relationship between chatbot and capacity building of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The study is anchored on Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) theory by Klaus Schwab in 2016. The study employed descriptive survey research design and random sampling probability technique. The population of the study was 304. Hypotheses were tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 27). Hypothesis one indicated that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between alexa and community engagement of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria, with r = 0.782, n = 304 and p value of 0.000 (p<0.05). Hypothesis two revealed that there is a statistically positive significant correlation between chatbot and capacity building of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria, with r = 0.923, n = 304 and p value of 0.000 (p<0.05). The study concluded that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between artificial intelligence and sustainable development of hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria. The study recommended that hospitality sector in Southeast, Nigeria, need to leverage chatbot technology to support and enhance capacity building initiatives, leading to improved skills and performance. Also, government needs to prioritize the design and development of user-friendly and interactive technologies to enhance community engagement and participation of hospitality industries sector in Southeast, Nigeria