Chicago

Chicago, United States, scores 69 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #66 of 309 destinations. 25 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 85% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: 69
• OECD: 67
• UN Tourism: 64
• UNDRR: 66

Strongest

• Domestic share of nights: 96.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (Choose Chicago, Chicago Tourism Performance (May 2025 update), 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 2.2 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.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.3 % 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.

Weakest

• Water scarcity: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4.
• Green space: 16 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Chicago, Office of the Mayor, Our Roots Chicago Initiative, 2022). Between 10 and 20: 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; Chicago is 1 below that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 70

• Nights in the three busiest months: 30.6 % of annual nights (Choose Chicago and Office of the Mayor of Chicago, 2025). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4. Source
• Domestic share of nights: 96.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (Choose Chicago, Chicago Tourism Performance (May 2025 update), 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4. Source
• Largest foreign market: 23 % of international arrivals or nights (Choose Chicago, Chicago Tourism Performance (Updated May 2025), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source
• Recovery against 2019: 96.8 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Choose Chicago, Research & Analysis: Chicago Tourism Performance, 2024). Between 90 and 100: grade 2/4. Source
• Average length of stay: not measured yet
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 68.2 % average annual occupancy (Choose Chicago, Research & Analysis: Chicago Tourism Performance, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 92

• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.3 % 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: 5.6 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, August 2026). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4. Source
• Income per head: 90,027 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4. Source
• Economic diversity: not measured yet

Climate and hazards: 65

• Extreme heat days: 2.2 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: 34.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4. Source
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4. Source
• Wildfire and storm hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. 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: 50

• Water scarcity: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. Source
• Wastewater safely treated: 98.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat, SDG Global Database (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4. Source
• Municipal waste per resident: 544.7 kg per resident per year (City of Chicago & Delta Institute, 2021 City of Chicago Waste Strategy, 2020). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4. Source
• Green space: 16 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Chicago, Office of the Mayor, Our Roots Chicago Initiative, 2022). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4. Source

Community and housing: 75

• Tourism intensity: not measured yet
• Cruise pressure: not measured yet
• Rent growth: 5.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartments.com Rent Report, September 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4. Source
• Short-let density: 0.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Inside Airbnb & U.S. Census Bureau ACS Profile, 2024). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4. Source
• Resident support for tourism: not measured yet

Access and continuity: 71

• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (City of Chicago / Chicago Department of Aviation / Amtrak / IDOT, 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 (City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), 2026). Grade 3/4. Source
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Choose Chicago, 2025–2026). 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 such as a tourist tax or levy (City of Chicago / Choose Chicago, 2026). Grade 2/4. Source

Compare Chicago

• Chicago vs New York
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