Cape Town vs Durban

Durban leads Cape Town by 9 points on the CIRA Index, 66 to 57. Cape Town grades better on 5 measures, Durban on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Cape Town 57, Durban 66
• OECD: Cape Town 56, Durban 62
• UN Tourism: Cape Town 39, Durban 67
• UNDRR: Cape Town 57, Durban 60

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cape Town 75, Durban 67
• Economy and jobs: Cape Town 13, Durban 42
• Climate and hazards: Cape Town 60, Durban 50
• Water and environment: Cape Town 13, Durban 75
• Community and housing: Cape Town 67, Durban 75
• Access and continuity: Cape Town 71, Durban 63

Where Cape Town is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 14.7 % of international arrivals or nights (Cape Town Tourism - Economic Value of Tourism Report, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 61.7 % average annual occupancy (Cape Town Tourism, Economic Value of Tourism 2025 Report, 2025). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Tropical nights: 2 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.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Western Cape Government / African Centre for Cities / CPUT, 2021–2024). Grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Tourism Marketing South Africa (TOMSA) / Cape Town Tourism, 2024–2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Durban is stronger

• Recovery against 2019: 100.6 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (South African Tourism, Tourism Performance Report January – December 2025, 2025). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 52.4 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat, SDG Country Profile South Africa (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 219 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (eThekwini Municipality Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW), State of Waste Report for eThekwini Municipality, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 62 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Insights (HUGSI), 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 3.6 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (PayProp Rental Index (via Real Estate Investor Magazine / Property24), Q2 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• South Africa: #61 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• South Africa: #61 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Cape Town in full · Durban in full

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