Cape Town vs Ekurhuleni

Ekurhuleni leads Cape Town by 10 points on the CIRA Index, 67 to 57. Cape Town grades better on 4 measures, Ekurhuleni on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Cape Town 57, Ekurhuleni 67
• OECD: Cape Town 56, Ekurhuleni 63
• UN Tourism: Cape Town 39, Ekurhuleni 64
• UNDRR: Cape Town 57, Ekurhuleni 58

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cape Town 75, Ekurhuleni 63
• Economy and jobs: Cape Town 13, Ekurhuleni 50
• Climate and hazards: Cape Town 60, Ekurhuleni 65
• Water and environment: Cape Town 13, Ekurhuleni 67
• Community and housing: Cape Town 67, Ekurhuleni 88
• Access and continuity: Cape Town 71, Ekurhuleni 54

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.
• 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 Ekurhuleni is stronger

• Recovery against 2019: 102.6 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (country figure) (Statistics South Africa / South African Tourism, 2025). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 88.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (City of Ekurhuleni, Sustainable Development Goals Baseline Assessment Report, 2024/25). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 398 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment / UNFCCC South Africa's 5th Biennial Update Report, 2020). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: 3.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (region figure) (PayProp / TPN Credit Bureau via Property Professional, 2025/2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 0.1 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (AirDNA & City of Ekurhuleni / Stats SA General Household Survey, 2024–2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.

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 · Ekurhuleni in full

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