Philadelphia

Philadelphia, United States, scores 66 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #92 of 309 destinations. 27 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 82% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: 66
• OECD: 66
• UN Tourism: 72
• UNDRR: 57

Strongest

• Unemployment rate: 4.9 % of the labour force (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (PhilaPort and City of Philadelphia, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• 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.

Weakest

• Largest foreign market: 44.6 % of international arrivals or nights (Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority 2024 Annual Report / WHYY, 2024). Above 40: 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; Philadelphia is 4 below that.

Every measure, by theme

Demand and seasonality: 60

• 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: 89.8 % of nights by residents of the same country (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 above 45: grade 4/4. Source
• Largest foreign market: 44.6 % of international arrivals or nights (Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority 2024 Annual Report / WHYY, 2024). Above 40: grade 0/4. Source
• Recovery against 2019: not measured yet
• Average length of stay: 2.1 nights per visitor (Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) 2024 Annual Report (Tourism Economics), 2024). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4. Source
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 67 % average annual occupancy (Visit Philadelphia and Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), reported by WHYY, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4. Source

Economy and jobs: 94

• 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: 4.9 % of the labour force (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4. 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: 74.2 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics / Philadelphia International Airport (PHL.org), 2025). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4. Source

Climate and hazards: 50

• Extreme heat days: 7 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: 51.6 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: 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: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4. 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 Indicator 6.3.1), 2020). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4. Source
• Municipal waste per resident: 401.7 kg per resident per year (City of Philadelphia Department of Sanitation / U.S. Census Bureau, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4. Source
• Green space: 20 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation / University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Lab (Philadelphia Tree Canopy Assessment), 2018). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source

Community and housing: 58

• Tourism intensity: 11.2 visitor nights per resident per year (Visit Philadelphia & Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau / U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). Between 10 and 20: grade 2/4. Source
• Cruise pressure: not measured yet
• Rent growth: 3.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (metro figure) (Zillow Research, September 2024–September 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4. Source
• Short-let density: 1.1 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (AirDNA & U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2024–2026). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4. Source
• Resident support for tourism: not measured yet

Access and continuity: 75

• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (PhilaPort and City of Philadelphia, 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 city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (City of Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4. Source
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Visit Philadelphia and Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), 2022–2026). 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 Philadelphia Department of Revenue and Philadelphia Hospitality Promotion Tax Act, 2025–2026). Grade 2/4. Source

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