Honolulu vs Phoenix

Honolulu leads Phoenix by 2 points on the CIRA Index, 65 to 63. Honolulu grades better on 7 measures, Phoenix on 4; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Honolulu 65, Phoenix 63
• OECD: Honolulu 64, Phoenix 61
• UN Tourism: Honolulu 65, Phoenix 67
• UNDRR: Honolulu 78, Phoenix 57

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Honolulu 71, Phoenix 70
• Economy and jobs: Honolulu 75, Phoenix 75
• Climate and hazards: Honolulu 50, Phoenix 25
• Water and environment: Honolulu 50, Phoenix 58
• Community and housing: Honolulu 38, Phoenix 88
• Access and continuity: Honolulu 96, Phoenix 75

Where Honolulu is stronger

• Economic diversity: 73.1 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 0 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.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Trees for Honolulu's Future / Honolulu Civil Beat, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (State of Hawaii Department of Transportation & City and County of Honolulu, 2024–2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA), 2023–2025). Grade 4/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (City and County of Honolulu & State of Hawaii Department of Budget and Finance, 2024–2026). Grade 4/4.

Where Phoenix is stronger

• Recovery against 2019: 101.3 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Arizona Office of Tourism / Tourism Economics, TRACKING DOMESTIC VISITOR VOLUMES FOR ARIZONA 2024 Q4, 2024). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 12.1 % of employment in accommodation and food services (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics, 2024). Between 12 and 16: grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: -2.9 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Apartment List, Phoenix, AZ Rent Report (October 2026), October 2025 – September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.9 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (AirROI Phoenix Market Report & U.S. Census Bureau ACS Estimates, 2024–2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Honolulu in full · Phoenix in full

The CIRA Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · CIRA Studio · Put your city in the pilot