Edinburgh vs London

Edinburgh leads London by 5 points on the CIRA Index, 82 to 77. Edinburgh grades better on 5 measures, London on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Edinburgh 82, London 77
• OECD: Edinburgh 81, London 76
• UN Tourism: Edinburgh 86, London 81
• UNDRR: Edinburgh 69, London 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Edinburgh 85, London 79
• Economy and jobs: Edinburgh 88, London 88
• Climate and hazards: Edinburgh 70, London 65
• Water and environment: Edinburgh 88, London 88
• Community and housing: Edinburgh 75, London 58
• Access and continuity: Edinburgh 79, London 75

Where Edinburgh is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 35.1 % of nights by residents of the same country (VisitScotland / ONS (Great Britain Tourism Survey and International Passenger Survey), 2024). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Unemployment rate: 3.3 % of the labour force (Office for National Statistics via Nomis, Labour Market Profile - City of Edinburgh, Apr 2023–Mar 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Short-let density: 0.8 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (BiGGAR Economics / Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers, Economic Impacts of Short-term Lets in Edinburgh, 2024). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (City of Edinburgh Council, How we're investing the Edinburgh Visitor Levy, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.

Where London is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 17.9 % of international arrivals or nights (Greater London Authority, Tourism in London - Recent Trends (ONS International Passenger Survey), 2024). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 7.1 % 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.
• Tourism intensity: 16.9 visitor nights per resident per year (Greater London Authority & Office for National Statistics, 2024). Between 10 and 20: grade 2/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (London & Partners & Mayor of London, 2022–2025). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United Kingdom: #7 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United Kingdom: #7 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Edinburgh in full · London in full

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