Boston vs New Orleans

Boston leads New Orleans by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 75 to 71. Boston grades better on 9 measures, New Orleans on 3; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Boston 75, New Orleans 71
• OECD: Boston 76, New Orleans 67
• UN Tourism: Boston 74, New Orleans 73
• UNDRR: Boston 65, New Orleans 73

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Boston 85, New Orleans 67
• Economy and jobs: Boston 100, New Orleans 67
• Climate and hazards: Boston 65, New Orleans 40
• Water and environment: Boston 56, New Orleans 69
• Community and housing: Boston 63, New Orleans 67
• Access and continuity: Boston 83, New Orleans 96

Where Boston is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 22.8 % of international arrivals or nights (Stay In Boston / Meet Boston (Tourism Economics), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 77.3 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (Meet Boston, Hotel Statistics (Pinnacle Advisory Group), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 8 % of employment in accommodation and food services (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages in Boston-Cambridge-Newton — May 2025, May 2025). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.3 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment, July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 3.4 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.
• Tropical nights: 26.2 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.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Green space: 28.5 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, 2019-2024 Tree Canopy Assessment, 2019-2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Commonwealth of Massachusetts / Meet Boston, Tourism & Hospitality Rapid Recovery Plan, 2022–2026). Grade 4/4.

Where New Orleans is stronger

• Municipal waste per resident: 405.3 kg per resident per year (Louisiana Legislative Auditor, City of New Orleans - Residential Trash and Recyclables Collection, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready), 2025-2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Boston in full · New Orleans in full

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