Heraklion vs Rhodes

Heraklion leads Rhodes by 10 points on the CIRA Index, 60 to 50. Heraklion grades better on 6 measures, Rhodes on 3; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Heraklion 60, Rhodes 50
• OECD: Heraklion 54, Rhodes 49
• UN Tourism: Heraklion 64, Rhodes 52
• UNDRR: Heraklion 60, Rhodes 62

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Heraklion 38, Rhodes 46
• Economy and jobs: Heraklion 69, Rhodes 75
• Climate and hazards: Heraklion 45, Rhodes 35
• Water and environment: Heraklion 75, Rhodes 38
• Community and housing: Heraklion 50, Rhodes 25
• Access and continuity: Heraklion 71, Rhodes 79

Where Heraklion is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 63 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (INSETE (Institute of the Greek Tourism Enterprises), 2023). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4.
• Extreme heat days: 8 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• 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.
• Resident support for tourism: 89.9 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (region figure) (Accounting and Financial Management Laboratory of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) / ΟΙΚΟΔΟΜiN, 2024). At or above 70: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Municipality of Heraklion / Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority, 2024). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.

Where Rhodes is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 26.8 % of international arrivals or nights (Fraport Greece, Rhodes Airport 'Diagoras' - Traffic Report by Country, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 111.7 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Greek Trip Planner / Fraport Greece, 2025). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Greek Ministry of Tourism / Gov.gr, 2023–2024). Grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

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

Heraklion in full · Rhodes in full

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