Boston

Boston, United States, scores 75 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #17 of 309 destinations. 26 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 86% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: 75
• OECD: 76
• UN Tourism: 74
• UNDRR: 65

Strongest

• Extreme heat days: 3.4 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 1.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Boston, MA Rent Report (September 2026), August 2025–August 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Massport / Amtrak / MassDOT, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Weakest

• Municipal waste per resident: 725.7 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) - Massachusetts 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, 2019). Above 700: grade 0/4.
• Flood hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Rapid Recovery Plan Program - Toolkit (Mass.gov), 2022). Grade 1/4.

United States in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index

United States is #2 of 110 countries (5.23 of 7) in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which scores countries, not cities. Cities in countries with that WEF score average 70 on the CIRA Index; Boston is 5 above that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 85

• Nights in the three busiest months: 28.5 % of annual nights (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Hotel Statistics (Pinnacle Advisory Group), 2024). At or below 30: grade 4/4. Source
• Domestic share of nights: 94.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Industry Statistics & Reports, 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4. Source
• Largest foreign market: 22.8 % of international arrivals or nights (Stay In Boston / Meet Boston (Tourism Economics), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source
• Recovery against 2019: not measured yet
• Average length of stay: 3.2 nights per visitor (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Occupancy Rate, Visitor Statistics, 2025). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4. Source
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 77.3 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Hotel Statistics (Pinnacle Advisory Group), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 100

• Jobs in tourism industries: 8 % of employment in accommodation and food services (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages in Boston-Cambridge-Newton — May 2025, May 2025). At or below 8: grade 4/4. Source
• Unemployment rate: 4.3 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment, July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Income per head: 123,539 GDP per capita, USD PPP (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis & U.S. Census Bureau via FRED, 2023). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4. Source
• Economic diversity: 81.6 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Boston Area Employment — June 2025, June 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4. Source

Climate and hazards: 65

• Extreme heat days: 3.4 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Tropical nights: 26.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4. Source
• Flood hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. Source
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
• Country disaster risk: 3.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4. Source

Water and environment: 56

• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4. Source
• Wastewater safely treated: 91.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (UN-Habitat & WHO (SDG 6.3.1 Progress Report), 2020). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4. Source
• Municipal waste per resident: 725.7 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) - Massachusetts 2030 Solid Waste Master Plan, 2019). Above 700: grade 0/4. Source
• Green space: 28.5 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, 2019-2024 Tree Canopy Assessment, 2019-2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source

Community and housing: 63

• Tourism intensity: not measured yet
• Cruise pressure: not measured yet
• Rent growth: 1.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Boston, MA Rent Report (September 2026), August 2025–August 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4. Source
• Short-let density: 3.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (AirDNA and U.S. Census Bureau (ACS DP04), 2024–2026). Between 2 and 4: grade 1/4. Source
• Resident support for tourism: not measured yet

Access and continuity: 83

• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Massport / Amtrak / MassDOT, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Air traffic recovery: not measured yet
• Rail share of intercity access: not measured yet
• Rail traffic recovery: not measured yet
• Largest airline group share: not measured yet
• Air route concentration: not measured yet
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (City of Boston, Emergency Management / AlertBoston, 2026). Grade 3/4. Source
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Rapid Recovery Plan Program - Toolkit (Mass.gov), 2022). Grade 1/4. Source
• Government effectiveness: 84 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4. Source
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4. Source
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Commonwealth of Massachusetts / Meet Boston, Tourism & Hospitality Rapid Recovery Plan, 2022–2026). Grade 4/4. Source

Compare Boston

• Boston vs New York
• Boston vs Miami
• Boston vs Los Angeles
• Boston vs Seattle
• Boston vs New Orleans
• Boston vs Vancouver
• Boston vs Montreal
• Boston vs Ottawa

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