Bishkek vs Phuket

Phuket leads Bishkek by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 45 to 44. Bishkek grades better on 5 measures, Phuket on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Bishkek 44, Phuket 45
• OECD: Bishkek 46, Phuket 54
• UN Tourism: Bishkek 43, Phuket 46
• UNDRR: Bishkek 33, Phuket 63

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Bishkek 69, Phuket 70
• Economy and jobs: Bishkek 67, Phuket 75
• Climate and hazards: Bishkek 67, Phuket 40
• Water and environment: Bishkek 33, Phuket 0
• Community and housing: Bishkek 0, Phuket 25
• Access and continuity: Bishkek 29, Phuket 71

Where Bishkek is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 47.8 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (Trend News Agency / National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 150.9 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (country figure) (International Trade Administration & World Bank, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.4 % 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.
• Tropical nights: 29 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 279 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic via 24.kg, 2023). At or below 350: grade 4/4.

Where Phuket is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 17.3 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 37,383 GDP per capita, USD PPP (region figure) (Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) / World Bank, 2019). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4.
• Extreme heat days: 2.4 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.
• Rent growth: 10 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (FazWaz, Phuket Price Rental Index 2023, 2023). Between 6 and 10: grade 2/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (The ASEAN Magazine, 'Thailand's Progress 20 Years After the Indian Ocean Tsunami' & ICPADM, 2024). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (PMC / Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 'How Thailand's tourism industry coped with COVID-19 pandemics: a lesson from the pilot Phuket Tourism Sandbox project', 2022–2024). Grade 4/4.
• Government effectiveness: 59.9 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 40 and 60: grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Bangkok Post, 'Phuket considers tripling hotel tax rate', 2026). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Kyrgyzstan: #93 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Thailand: #38 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Bishkek in full · Phuket in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot