Heraklion vs Málaga

Heraklion leads Málaga by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 60 to 59. Heraklion grades better on 8 measures, Málaga on 9; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Heraklion 60, Málaga 59
• OECD: Heraklion 54, Málaga 60
• UN Tourism: Heraklion 64, Málaga 55
• UNDRR: Heraklion 60, Málaga 64

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Heraklion 38, Málaga 75
• Economy and jobs: Heraklion 69, Málaga 58
• Climate and hazards: Heraklion 45, Málaga 45
• Water and environment: Heraklion 75, Málaga 38
• Community and housing: Heraklion 50, Málaga 56
• Access and continuity: Heraklion 71, Málaga 73

Where Heraklion is stronger

• Average length of stay: 7.7 nights per visitor (region figure) (INSETE Intelligence, 'Ποιος πάει πού; Πόσο μένει; Πόσα ξοδεύει;' (Who goes where? How long do they stay? How much do they spend?), 2025). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Unemployment rate: 6.9 % of the labour force (region figure) (Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) Labour Force Survey / The Kolymbari Courier, Q4 2025). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 45,264 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 92.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Global SDG Database / WHO / UN-Habitat (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 519 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA), Country profile waste management – Greece, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• 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 (Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance / Law 5073/2023, 2024). Grade 3/4.

Where Málaga is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 29.1 % of annual nights (Turismo y Planificación Costa del Sol, Balance de la situación del sector turístico en Málaga en 2025, 2025). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
• Domestic share of nights: 31.1 % of nights by residents of the same country (Ayuntamiento de Málaga / Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), 2025). Between 25 and 35: grade 2/4.
• Largest foreign market: 17.2 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 129.7 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Área de Turismo del Ayuntamiento de Málaga & UN Tourism STO Málaga / INE Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera, 2023). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 81.2 % average annual occupancy (Área de Turismo y Promoción de la Ciudad del Ayuntamiento de Málaga / INE, 2023). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• 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: 6.3 visitor nights per resident per year (Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) & Ayuntamiento de Málaga, 2025). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Ayuntamiento de Málaga - Área de Turismo, Visita Málaga, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Government effectiveness: 83 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Heraklion in full · Málaga in full

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