Las Vegas vs Phoenix

Phoenix leads Las Vegas by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 63 to 59. Las Vegas grades better on 6 measures, Phoenix on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Las Vegas 59, Phoenix 63
• OECD: Las Vegas 60, Phoenix 61
• UN Tourism: Las Vegas 56, Phoenix 67
• UNDRR: Las Vegas 67, Phoenix 57

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Las Vegas 79, Phoenix 70
• Economy and jobs: Las Vegas 81, Phoenix 75
• Climate and hazards: Las Vegas 35, Phoenix 25
• Water and environment: Las Vegas 31, Phoenix 58
• Community and housing: Las Vegas 50, Phoenix 88
• Access and continuity: Las Vegas 83, Phoenix 75

Where Las Vegas is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 25.3 % of international arrivals or nights (metro figure) (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) / Oxford Economics, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 80.3 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), Research Center FAQ & 2025 Year-End Summary, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• 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.
• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Financial & Operations Policies, 2025). Grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Las Vegas Review-Journal / LVCVA FY 2026 Budget, FY 2025–2026). 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.
• Economic diversity: 69.8 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CES Program, 2024). Between 64 and 72: grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Green space: 11 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation & American Forests, Shade Phoenix Plan, 2024). Between 10 and 20: grade 1/4.
• 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.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, 2026). Grade 4/4.

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

Las Vegas in full · Phoenix in full

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