Belgrade vs Heraklion

Belgrade leads Heraklion by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 61 to 60. Belgrade grades better on 7 measures, Heraklion on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Belgrade 61, Heraklion 60
• OECD: Belgrade 60, Heraklion 54
• UN Tourism: Belgrade 60, Heraklion 64
• UNDRR: Belgrade 46, Heraklion 60

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Belgrade 56, Heraklion 38
• Economy and jobs: Belgrade 75, Heraklion 69
• Climate and hazards: Belgrade 67, Heraklion 45
• Water and environment: Belgrade 50, Heraklion 75
• Community and housing: Belgrade 75, Heraklion 50
• Access and continuity: Belgrade 50, Heraklion 71

Where Belgrade is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 33.2 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Largest foreign market: 10.4 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Tourist turnover - December 2025 (Statistical Release UT10), 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 3.4 % 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.
• Economic diversity: 74 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (region figure) (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS), Registered Employment, I Quarter 2026, Q1 2026). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 35.8 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.
• Tourism intensity: 2.1 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Tourist turnover - December 2025 & Estimated population releases, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Government of the Republic of Serbia & Port Governance Agency, 2024–2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.

Where Heraklion is stronger

• Average length of stay: 7.7 nights per visitor (region figure) (INSETE Intelligence, 'Ποιος πάει πού; Πόσο μένει; Πόσα ξοδεύει;' (Who goes where? How long do they stay? How much do they spend?), 2025). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 45,264 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 92.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Global SDG Database / WHO / UN-Habitat (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Municipality of Heraklion & Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, 2024). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Region of Crete Tourism Directorate / Ministry of Tourism, 2024). Grade 1/4.
• Government effectiveness: 61.3 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.
• 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.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance / Law 5073/2023, 2024). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Serbia: #68 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Belgrade in full · Heraklion in full

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