Chengdu vs Colombo

Chengdu leads Colombo by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 70 to 69. Chengdu grades better on 7 measures, Colombo on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chengdu 70, Colombo 69
• OECD: Chengdu 64, Colombo 61
• UN Tourism: Chengdu 81, Colombo 69
• UNDRR: Chengdu 64, Colombo 51

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chengdu 58, Colombo 71
• Economy and jobs: Chengdu 75, Colombo 75
• Climate and hazards: Chengdu 40, Colombo 45
• Water and environment: Chengdu 94, Colombo 56
• Community and housing: Chengdu 100, Colombo 100
• Access and continuity: Chengdu 63, Colombo 58

Where Chengdu is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 99.5 % of nights by residents of the same country (Xinhua / Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 15 % of international arrivals or nights (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, Chengdu Statistical Yearbook 2025, 2024). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 95 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, 2023 Statistical Bulletin on National Economic and Social Development of Chengdu, 2023). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 44.7 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China / Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Park City Construction and Management, 2023). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Chengdu Travel Guide & Emergency Services, 2024). Grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 69.8 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.

Where Colombo is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 32.9 % of annual nights (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Year in Review 2024, 2024). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Average length of stay: 8.4 nights per visitor (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Annual Statistical Report 2023, 2023). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 60 % average annual occupancy (Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) / Hospitality Sri Lanka, 2023). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Extreme heat days: 1.2 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.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Railways, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Road Development Authority, 2024). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) & Tourism Act No. 38 of 2005, 2024). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Sri Lanka: #69 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chengdu in full · Colombo in full

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