Barcelona vs Nice

Barcelona leads Nice by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 65 to 62. Barcelona grades better on 11 measures, Nice on 5; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Barcelona 65, Nice 62
• OECD: Barcelona 65, Nice 62
• UN Tourism: Barcelona 66, Nice 67
• UNDRR: Barcelona 70, Nice 64

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Barcelona 71, Nice 71
• Economy and jobs: Barcelona 58, Nice 56
• Climate and hazards: Barcelona 60, Nice 55
• Water and environment: Barcelona 69, Nice 69
• Community and housing: Barcelona 45, Nice 42
• Access and continuity: Barcelona 75, Nice 71

Where Barcelona is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.8 % of annual nights (INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística) / Idescat, Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera, 2024). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 12 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 80.1 % average annual occupancy (Gremi d'Hotels de Barcelona, Valoració tancament any 2025 i perspectives 2026, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 8.4 % of the labour force (Ajuntament de Barcelona - Oficina Municipal de Dades (OMD) / INE, Enquesta de Població Activa (EPA), Q2 2026). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Economic diversity: 70.1 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (Idescat (Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya), Anuari estadístic de Catalunya, 2023). Between 64 and 72: grade 2/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 444.3 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 1.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Ajuntament de Barcelona & Inside Airbnb / Mabrian, 2024). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Ajuntament de Barcelona - Àrea d'Economia i Promoció Econòmica, 2024–2026). Grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Generalitat de Catalunya / Ajuntament de Barcelona (Llei 2/2026; Fons de Foment del Turisme), 2026). Grade 3/4.

Where Nice is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 48 % of nights by residents of the same country (Monaco Economie / Office de Tourisme Métropolitain Nice Côte d'Azur, 2023). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 63,975 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (metro figure) (Observatoire des services publics d'eau et d'assainissement (Sispea / Eaufrance) - Régie d'assainissement Métropole Nice Côte d'Azur, 2022). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 40 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI.green), 2025). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 5.4 % change in rents over the last 12 months (SeLoger, Marché locatif à Nice : des loyers élevés et une hausse durable, April 2025 – April 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• France: #5 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Barcelona in full · Nice in full

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