Brussels vs Reykjavík

Brussels and Reykjavík are level on the CIRA Index at 70. Brussels grades better on 10 measures, Reykjavík on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Brussels 70, Reykjavík 70
• OECD: Brussels 72, Reykjavík 69
• UN Tourism: Brussels 74, Reykjavík 63
• UNDRR: Brussels 71, Reykjavík 82

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Brussels 63, Reykjavík 63
• Economy and jobs: Brussels 88, Reykjavík 92
• Climate and hazards: Brussels 80, Reykjavík 80
• Water and environment: Brussels 81, Reykjavík 50
• Community and housing: Brussels 63, Reykjavík 56
• Access and continuity: Brussels 67, Reykjavík 88

Where Brussels is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 31.1 % 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.
• Domestic share of nights: 21.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations: Overnight stays in 2025 by region and most common countries of origin, 2025). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
• Largest foreign market: 14.5 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations: Overnight stays in 2025 by region and most common countries of origin, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 4.5 % 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.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 85.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations SDG Global Database / WHO / UN-Habitat (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 348 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Bruxelles-Propreté (via BX1), 2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 54.4 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (region figure) (Bruxelles Environnement, 2019). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 5.9 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Statbel (Statistics Belgium), Tourist accommodations & Structure of the population, 2025). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Brussels Airport, SNCB/NMBS, and Port of Brussels, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.

Where Reykjavík is stronger

• Recovery against 2019: 111.4 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands), 'Overnight stays in December 2024' & Accommodation Database SAM01102, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 6.5 nights per visitor (country figure) (Ferðamálastofa (Icelandic Tourist Board) / Statistics Iceland, 'Tourism in Iceland in Figures - FMS 2024-41', Dec 2023–Nov 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 77 % average annual occupancy (City of Reykjavík (Reykjavíkurborg), 2023). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 4.3 % of the labour force (country figure) (Statistics Iceland, Labour market 2025, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.6 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management (Almannavarnir) & Safetravel Iceland, 2024–2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Tourism Cases / CABI & Iceland Review / Almannavarnir, 2023–2024). Grade 4/4.
• 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 (Icelandic Tourist Board (Ferðamálastofa) / Ministry of Culture and Business Affairs, 2024–2026). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Belgium: #24 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Iceland: #34 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Brussels in full · Reykjavík in full

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