Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa, scores 67 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #84 of 309 destinations. 28 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 79% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: 67
• OECD: 64
• UN Tourism: 63
• UNDRR: 57

Strongest

• Extreme heat days: 0 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: 0.4 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.
• Green space: 42 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.

Weakest

• Recovery against 2019: 71 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Gauteng Tourism Authority, Annual Report 2022/23, 2022/23). Below 80: grade 0/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 48.8 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Green Drop Report 2025 (via GroundUp), 2023/24). Below 50: grade 0/4.
• Unemployment rate: 34.7 % of the labour force (City of Johannesburg, State of the City Address citing Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Q1 2026). Above 18: grade 0/4.

South Africa in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index

South Africa is #61 of 110 countries (3.99 of 7) in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which scores countries, not cities. Cities in countries with that WEF score average 58 on the CIRA Index; Johannesburg is 9 above that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 63

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.8 % of annual nights (country figure) (Statistics South Africa, Tourist Accommodation (Statistical Release P6410), 2025). At or below 30: grade 4/4. Source
• Domestic share of nights: 69.2 % of nights by residents of the same country (Joburg Tourism Company, Facts About Joburg, 2022). At or above 45: grade 4/4. Source
• Largest foreign market: 24.5 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Statistics South Africa / Department of Tourism, 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source
• Recovery against 2019: 71 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Gauteng Tourism Authority, Annual Report 2022/23, 2022/23). Below 80: grade 0/4. Source
• Average length of stay: 13.3 nights per visitor (country figure) (South African Tourism, Tourism Performance Report, 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4. Source
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 53 % average annual occupancy (AirDNA, Johannesburg Market Dashboard, 2025–2026). Between 45 and 55: grade 1/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 50

• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.4 % 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: 34.7 % of the labour force (City of Johannesburg, State of the City Address citing Statistics South Africa Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), Q1 2026). Above 18: grade 0/4. Source
• Income per head: 15,906 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 15,000 and 30,000: grade 1/4. Source
• Economic diversity: 73.2 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (country figure) (Statistics South Africa, Quarterly Labour Force Survey Quarter 2: 2026 (Statistical Release P0211), Q2 2026). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4. Source

Climate and hazards: 70

• Extreme heat days: 0 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: 0.4 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: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4. Source
• Wildfire and storm hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. Source
• Country disaster risk: 5.2 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 5 and 6.5: grade 1/4. Source

Water and environment: 63

• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
• Wastewater safely treated: 48.8 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Green Drop Report 2025 (via GroundUp), 2023/24). Below 50: grade 0/4. Source
• Municipal waste per resident: 291.5 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (Pikitup Johannesburg SOC Ltd & Statistics South Africa, 2022–2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4. Source
• Green space: 42 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4. Source

Community and housing: 92

• Tourism intensity: 2.1 visitor nights per resident per year (Joburg Tourism Company, Facts About Joburg, 2022). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
• Cruise pressure: not measured yet
• Rent growth: 4.4 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (PayProp, PayProp Rental Index, Q2 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4. Source
• Short-let density: 0.4 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (metro figure) (AirDNA & Statistics South Africa (Census 2022), 2022–2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4. Source
• Resident support for tourism: not measured yet

Access and continuity: 54

• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), Gautrain Management Agency, and SANRAL, 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 Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality Public Safety Department & National Disaster Management Centre, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4. Source
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (South Africa Department of Tourism & Joburg Tourism, 2025–2026). Grade 1/4. Source
• Government effectiveness: 45.8 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 40 and 60: grade 2/4. 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 promotion budget that depends each year on the general budget (City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Medium-Term Budget 2026/27 to 2028/29, 2026/27). Grade 1/4. Source

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