Colombo vs Johor Bahru

Colombo and Johor Bahru are level on the CIRA Index at 69. Colombo grades better on 6 measures, Johor Bahru on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Colombo 69, Johor Bahru 69
• OECD: Colombo 61, Johor Bahru 63
• UN Tourism: Colombo 69, Johor Bahru 70
• UNDRR: Colombo 51, Johor Bahru 55

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Colombo 71, Johor Bahru 60
• Economy and jobs: Colombo 75, Johor Bahru 67
• Climate and hazards: Colombo 45, Johor Bahru 50
• Water and environment: Colombo 56, Johor Bahru 63
• Community and housing: Colombo 100, Johor Bahru 88
• Access and continuity: Colombo 58, Johor Bahru 75

Where Colombo is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 20.3 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Year in Review 2024, 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• 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.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.2 % 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). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 346.8 kg per resident per year (Colombo Municipal Council / RTI Sri Lanka, 2020). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 23.2 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (metro figure) (Urban Development Authority (UDA), Sri Lanka, 'Mapping Urban Tree Canopy Loss as an Indicator of Development Pressure in the Colombo Metropolitan Area (2004–2024)', 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Ministry of Tourism and Lands / Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), 2022-2025). Grade 2/4.

Where Johor Bahru is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29 % 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.
• Domestic share of nights: 69.4 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Johor State Government / The Star, 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 41,498 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 90.6 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Media Digital Johor / Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB), 2025). Grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 79.2 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 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). At or below 1: grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (The Straits Times / Bernama, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Sri Lanka: #69 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Malaysia: #26 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Colombo in full · Johor Bahru in full

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