George Town vs Johor Bahru

George Town leads Johor Bahru by 2 points on the CIRA Index, 71 to 69. George Town grades better on 6 measures, Johor Bahru on 3; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: George Town 71, Johor Bahru 69
• OECD: George Town 70, Johor Bahru 63
• UN Tourism: George Town 77, Johor Bahru 70
• UNDRR: George Town 69, Johor Bahru 55

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: George Town 71, Johor Bahru 60
• Economy and jobs: George Town 67, Johor Bahru 67
• Climate and hazards: George Town 55, Johor Bahru 50
• Water and environment: George Town 88, Johor Bahru 63
• Community and housing: George Town 75, Johor Bahru 88
• Access and continuity: George Town 75, Johor Bahru 75

Where George Town is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 37.9 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Penang State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee / Immigration Department of Malaysia (Penang branch), via Buletin Mutiara, 2024). Between 30 and 40: grade 1/4.
• Income per head: 55,891 GDP per capita, USD PPP (region figure) (Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2024 & World Bank International Comparison Program, 2024). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Green space: 47.3 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Penang Island City Council (MBPP) / The Vibes, 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 4.6 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (Penang State Government / Tourism Malaysia & Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Penang State Government / George Town World Heritage Incorporated, 2021-2030). Grade 3/4.

Where Johor Bahru is stronger

• Jobs in tourism industries: 12.8 % 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 12 and 16: grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Senai International Airport & Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB), 2024–2026). At or above 4: 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)

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

George Town in full · Johor Bahru in full

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