Brussels

Brussels, Belgium, scores 70 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #57 of 309 destinations. 29 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 76% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

CIRA Index: 70
OECD: 72
UN Tourism: 74
UNDRR: 71

Strongest

Extreme heat days: 0.4 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.
Tropical nights: 1.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
Resident support for tourism: 79 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (The Brussels Times / iVOX survey for Ovide–Airbnb, 2026). At or above 70: grade 4/4.

Weakest

Short-let density: 4.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Calculated from Inside Airbnb and IBSA (Institut Bruxellois de Statistique et d'Analyse) / Statbel, 2025). Above 4: grade 0/4.
Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Travel Tomorrow & Together Magazine, 2026). Grade 1/4.
Average length of stay: 2 nights per visitor (region figure) (Statbel - Tourist accommodations, 2025). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4.

Belgium in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index

Belgium is #24 of 110 countries (4.53 of 7) in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which scores countries, not cities. Cities in countries with that WEF score average 63 on the CIRA Index; Brussels is 7 above that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 63

Nights in the three busiest months: 31.1 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4. Source
Domestic share of nights: 21.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations: Overnight stays in 2025 by region and most common countries of origin, 2025). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4. Source
Largest foreign market: 14.5 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations: Overnight stays in 2025 by region and most common countries of origin, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4. Source
Recovery against 2019: 103.6 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Bruzz / The Brussels Times, 2024). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4. Source
Average length of stay: 2 nights per visitor (region figure) (Statbel - Tourist accommodations, 2025). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4. Source
Hotel bed or room occupancy: 72.7 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (visit.brussels / SQUARE Brussels Convention Centre, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 88

Jobs in tourism industries: 4.5 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4. Source
Unemployment rate: 10.6 % of the labour force (region figure) (Statbel / Eurostat via EURES, 2023). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4. Source
Income per head: 99,407 GDP per capita, USD PPP (region figure) (OECD Regional Statistics via Wikipedia List of OECD regions by GDP (PPP) per capita, 2022). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4. Source
Economic diversity: 80 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (OECD Territorial Reviews / Eurostat, 2022). At or above 80: grade 4/4. Source

Climate and hazards: 80

Extreme heat days: 0.4 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: 1.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4. Source
Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4. Source
Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
Country disaster risk: 2.6 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: 81

Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
Wastewater safely treated: 85.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations SDG Global Database / WHO / UN-Habitat (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4. Source
Municipal waste per resident: 348 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Bruxelles-Propreté (via BX1), 2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4. Source
Green space: 54.4 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (region figure) (Bruxelles Environnement, 2019). At or above 40: grade 4/4. Source

Community and housing: 63

Tourism intensity: 5.9 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations & Structure of the population, 2025). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4. Source
Cruise pressure: not measured yet
Rent growth: 3.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (FEDERIA (Fédération des agents immobiliers francophones de Belgique) - Baromètre de locations 2025, 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4. Source
Short-let density: 4.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Calculated from Inside Airbnb and IBSA (Institut Bruxellois de Statistique et d'Analyse) / Statbel, 2025). Above 4: grade 0/4. Source
Resident support for tourism: 79 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (The Brussels Times / iVOX survey for Ovide–Airbnb, 2026). At or above 70: grade 4/4. Source

Access and continuity: 67

Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Brussels Airport, SNCB/NMBS, and Port of Brussels, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4. Source
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 (Safe.brussels & The Brussels Times, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4. Source
Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Travel Tomorrow & Together Magazine, 2026). Grade 1/4. Source
Government effectiveness: 87.7 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: 2 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). Between 1 and 2: grade 3/4. Source
Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Brussels-Capital Region (Bruxelles Fiscalité), 2026). Grade 2/4. Source

Compare Brussels

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot