New Orleans

New Orleans, United States, scores 71 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #40 of 309 destinations. 27 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 83% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

CIRA Index: 71
OECD: 67
UN Tourism: 73
UNDRR: 73

Strongest

Rent growth: 1.6 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, New Orleans Rent Report (October 2026), September 2025 – September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready), 2025-2026). Grade 4/4.
Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 4/4.

Weakest

Tropical nights: 178.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Above 100: grade 0/4.
Wildfire and storm hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4.
Flood hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). 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; New Orleans is 1 above that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 67

Nights in the three busiest months: 28.4 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4. Source
Domestic share of nights: 99 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Louisiana Office of Tourism / Road Genius / MMGY Global, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4. Source
Largest foreign market: 40 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana / WWL News, 2024). Between 30 and 40: grade 1/4. Source
Recovery against 2019: 98.5 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (New Orleans & Company / MMGY Global, 2025). Between 90 and 100: grade 2/4. Source
Average length of stay: 3.3 nights per visitor (MMGY Global / New Orleans & Company (via Smart Meetings), 2025). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4. Source
Hotel bed or room occupancy: 61.4 % average annual occupancy (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 67

Jobs in tourism industries: 17 % of employment in accommodation and food services (Cowen Institute, *Life After High School 2025 - New Orleans*, Not stated in the report; published in 2025). Between 16 and 22: grade 1/4. Source
Unemployment rate: 5.1 % of the labour force (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (via FRED, Series LAORLE0URN), July 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: 40

Extreme heat days: 8 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4. Source
Tropical nights: 178.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Above 100: grade 0/4. Source
Flood hazard: high (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 1/4. 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: 69

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 and World Health Organization (WHO), Progress on Wastewater Treatment (SDG 6.3.1), 2020). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4. Source
Municipal waste per resident: 405.3 kg per resident per year (Louisiana Legislative Auditor, City of New Orleans - Residential Trash and Recyclables Collection, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4. Source
Green space: 18.5 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL) & City of New Orleans, New Orleans Reforestation Plan, 2022). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4. Source

Community and housing: 67

Tourism intensity: not measured yet
Cruise pressure: not measured yet
Rent growth: 1.6 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, New Orleans Rent Report (October 2026), September 2025 – September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4. Source
Short-let density: 3.2 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits & U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2024–2025). Between 2 and 4: grade 1/4. Source
Resident support for tourism: 64 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (country figure) (Longwoods International / Miles Partnership, U.S. National Resident Sentiment Report (via TravelAge West), 2024). Between 60 and 70: grade 3/4. Source

Access and continuity: 96

Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (New Orleans & Company / Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4. 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, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready), 2025-2026). Grade 4/4. Source
Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 4/4. 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 partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (City of New Orleans / New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 3/4. Source

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