Beijing vs Colombo
Beijing leads Colombo by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 70 to 69. Beijing grades better on 8 measures, Colombo on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Beijing 70, Colombo 69
- OECD: Beijing 64, Colombo 61
- UN Tourism: Beijing 74, Colombo 69
- UNDRR: Beijing 59, Colombo 51
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Beijing 65, Colombo 71
- Economy and jobs: Beijing 81, Colombo 75
- Climate and hazards: Beijing 40, Colombo 45
- Water and environment: Beijing 75, Colombo 56
- Community and housing: Beijing 100, Colombo 100
- Access and continuity: Beijing 63, Colombo 58
Where Beijing is stronger
- Domestic share of nights: 99 % of nights by residents of the same country (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, 2024 Statistical Communiqué on National Economic and Social Development of Beijing Municipality, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
- Largest foreign market: 18.5 % of international arrivals or nights (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (via Xinhua), 2024). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
- Economic diversity: 80.9 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, Beijing Fifth National Economic Census Communiqués No. 2 & No. 4 (北京市第五次全国经济普查公报第二号、第四号), 2023). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
- Tropical nights: 76 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 97.5 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics & NBS Survey Office in Beijing, Statistical Communiqué on the 2024 National Economic and Social Development of Beijing Municipality, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
- Green space: 49.8 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics & NBS Survey Office in Beijing, Statistical Communiqué on the 2024 National Economic and Social Development of Beijing Municipality, 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Beijing Municipal Emergency Management Bureau, 2024). Grade 3/4.
- Government effectiveness: 69.8 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.
Where Colombo is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 32.9 % of annual nights (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Year in Review 2024, 2024). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
- Extreme heat days: 1.2 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.
- Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 346.8 kg per resident per year (Colombo Municipal Council / RTI Sri Lanka, 2020). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
- Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Railways, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Road Development Authority, 2024). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) & Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, 2024). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Sri Lanka: #69 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Beijing in full · Colombo in full
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