Brussels vs Zaragoza

Brussels and Zaragoza are level on the CIRA Index at 70. Brussels grades better on 11 measures, Zaragoza on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Brussels 70, Zaragoza 70
• OECD: Brussels 72, Zaragoza 70
• UN Tourism: Brussels 74, Zaragoza 80
• UNDRR: Brussels 71, Zaragoza 59

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Brussels 63, Zaragoza 71
• Economy and jobs: Brussels 88, Zaragoza 75
• Climate and hazards: Brussels 80, Zaragoza 45
• Water and environment: Brussels 81, Zaragoza 100
• Community and housing: Brussels 63, Zaragoza 75
• Access and continuity: Brussels 67, Zaragoza 70

Where Brussels is stronger

• 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.
• Average length of stay: 2 nights per visitor (region figure) (Statbel - Tourist accommodations, 2025). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4.
• Income per head: 99,407 GDP per capita, USD PPP (region figure) (OECD Regional Statistics via Wikipedia List of OECD regions by GDP (PPP) per capita, 2022). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 0.4 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: 1.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 3.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (FEDERIA (Fédération des agents immobiliers francophones de Belgique) - Baromètre de locations 2025, 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Resident support for tourism: 79 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (The Brussels Times / iVOX survey for Ovide–Airbnb, 2026). At or above 70: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Travel Tomorrow & Together Magazine, 2026). Grade 1/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Brussels-Capital Region (Bruxelles Fiscalité), 2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Zaragoza is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 70 % of nights by residents of the same country (Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza / Universidad de Zaragoza / INE reported via Heraldo de Aragón, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 116 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza / INE Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera y Extrahotelera, 2025). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 99 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza / Interempresas, 2025). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 3.1 visitor nights per resident per year (Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza / INE, 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (INE via El Diario / Catastro, August 2024). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Belgium: #24 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Brussels in full · Zaragoza in full

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