George Town vs Xi'an

George Town and Xi'an are level on the CIRA Index at 71. George Town grades better on 9 measures, Xi'an on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: George Town 71, Xi'an 71
• OECD: George Town 70, Xi'an 65
• UN Tourism: George Town 77, Xi'an 79
• UNDRR: George Town 69, Xi'an 66

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: George Town 71, Xi'an 60
• Economy and jobs: George Town 67, Xi'an 75
• Climate and hazards: George Town 55, Xi'an 35
• Water and environment: George Town 88, Xi'an 88
• Community and housing: George Town 75, Xi'an 100
• Access and continuity: George Town 75, Xi'an 71

Where George Town 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.
• Recovery against 2019: 115.9 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Penang State Government / Tourism Malaysia, cited in State of Penang Tourism 2026 and Focus Malaysia, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 62.6 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Tourism Malaysia / Penang State Government, 2024). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• 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.
• Extreme heat days: 0.8 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• 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 such as a tourist tax or levy (Free Malaysia Today / The Straits Times, 2024-2025). Grade 2/4.

Where Xi'an is stronger

• Average length of stay: 3.4 nights per visitor (Xinhua Net / Xi'an Datang Everbright City / Culture and Tourism Authorities, Spring Festival 2025). Between 2.8 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 5.4 % 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.
• Tropical nights: 80.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 98.9 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of China (MOHURD), China Urban Construction Statistical Yearbook 2023, 2023). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 186.2 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Report on the State of the Ecology and Environment in China 2024 & National Bureau of Statistics of China, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (CCTV News (央视网), 2024). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Malaysia: #26 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

George Town in full · Xi'an in full

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