Durban vs Johannesburg

Johannesburg leads Durban by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 67 to 66. Durban grades better on 4 measures, Johannesburg on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Durban 66, Johannesburg 67
• OECD: Durban 62, Johannesburg 64
• UN Tourism: Durban 67, Johannesburg 63
• UNDRR: Durban 60, Johannesburg 57

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Durban 67, Johannesburg 63
• Economy and jobs: Durban 42, Johannesburg 50
• Climate and hazards: Durban 50, Johannesburg 70
• Water and environment: Durban 75, Johannesburg 63
• Community and housing: Durban 75, Johannesburg 92
• Access and continuity: Durban 63, Johannesburg 54

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.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (eThekwini Municipality / SAnews, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.

Where Johannesburg is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 24.5 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Statistics South Africa / Department of Tourism, 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 53 % average annual occupancy (AirDNA, Johannesburg Market Dashboard, 2025–2026). Between 45 and 55: grade 1/4.
• Tropical nights: 0.4 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.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). 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

Durban in full · Johannesburg in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot