Istanbul vs Medina

Istanbul and Medina are level on the CIRA Index at 56. Istanbul grades better on 12 measures, Medina on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Istanbul 56, Medina 56
• OECD: Istanbul 55, Medina 55
• UN Tourism: Istanbul 58, Medina 51
• UNDRR: Istanbul 49, Medina 39

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Istanbul 50, Medina 92
• Economy and jobs: Istanbul 67, Medina 67
• Climate and hazards: Istanbul 45, Medina 40
• Water and environment: Istanbul 50, Medina 31
• Community and housing: Istanbul 58, Medina 63
• Access and continuity: Istanbul 63, Medina 38

Where Istanbul is stronger

• Jobs in tourism industries: 6.3 % 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.
• Unemployment rate: 8.5 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Extreme heat days: 2.8 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.
• Tropical nights: 59.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 425.2 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (İSTAÇ / Waste Management Association (WMA), 'How a city of 20 million people manages waste: Istanbul's experience', 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Green space: 27 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Tourism intensity: 2 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (İstanbul İl Kültür ve Turizm Müdürlüğü & TÜİK, 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (State Airports Authority (DHMİ), TCDD Tasimacilik, Galataport Istanbul, General Directorate of Highways (KGM), 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Disaster Coordination Center (AKOM) & AFAD, 2025). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), 2025). Grade 1/4.
• Travel advisory: 2 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). Between 1 and 2: grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye / Ministry of Treasury and Finance, 2023–2026). Grade 2/4.

Where Medina is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 32.8 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Domestic share of nights: 43.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (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 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Average length of stay: 10 nights per visitor (Madinah Region Development Authority via Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 2023). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 75 % average annual occupancy (Almqr Development Company / Saudi Press Agency (SPA), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 73,784 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 3.1 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 85 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO / UN-Habitat / UN-Water SDG 6 Data Portal & World Health Organization Data, 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Rent growth: 5.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), Consumer Price Index – December 2025, December 2024–December 2025). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 71.7 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Turkey: #36 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Saudi Arabia: #29 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Istanbul in full · Medina in full

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