Chiang Mai vs Riyadh

Chiang Mai and Riyadh are level on the CIRA Index at 59. Chiang Mai grades better on 9 measures, Riyadh on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Chiang Mai 59, Riyadh 59
• OECD: Chiang Mai 56, Riyadh 60
• UN Tourism: Chiang Mai 63, Riyadh 51
• UNDRR: Chiang Mai 46, Riyadh 53

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Chiang Mai 79, Riyadh 85
• Economy and jobs: Chiang Mai 50, Riyadh 88
• Climate and hazards: Chiang Mai 25, Riyadh 50
• Water and environment: Chiang Mai 63, Riyadh 19
• Community and housing: Chiang Mai 88, Riyadh 67
• Access and continuity: Chiang Mai 50, Riyadh 50

Where Chiang Mai is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.7 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 75.9 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Chiang Mai Provincial Government (Office of Tourism and Sports Chiang Mai), Meeting of Heads of Government Agencies of Chiang Mai Province, February 2025, 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 39 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 1/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 401.5 kg per resident per year (region figure) (Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organization via EXRI ASIA, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Green space: 93.4 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (region figure) (Discover Sustainability (Springer Nature) - Wiwat Pongruengkiat et al., 2021). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 6.3 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports & National Statistical Office of Thailand, 2024). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: 0.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (Global Property Guide / Bank of Thailand, Thailand Rent Price Index, 2025 Q2 to 2026 Q2). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Travel advisory: 2 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). Between 1 and 2: grade 3/4.

Where Riyadh is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 10.7 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, Annual Statistical Report 2024, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Average length of stay: 4.1 nights per visitor (country figure) (General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Tourism Establishments Statistics Publication, Q4 2024). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 10.2 % 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). Between 8 and 12: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 73,784 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 3.1 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 60 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Journal of King Saud University - Science, via NCBI / PubMed Central, 2021). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) & Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 71.7 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Thailand: #38 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Chiang Mai in full · Riyadh in full

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