New Orleans vs Orlando

New Orleans leads Orlando by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 71 to 70. New Orleans grades better on 5 measures, Orlando on 9; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: New Orleans 71, Orlando 70
• OECD: New Orleans 67, Orlando 70
• UN Tourism: New Orleans 73, Orlando 75
• UNDRR: New Orleans 73, Orlando 66

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: New Orleans 67, Orlando 83
• Economy and jobs: New Orleans 67, Orlando 81
• Climate and hazards: New Orleans 40, Orlando 45
• Water and environment: New Orleans 69, Orlando 75
• Community and housing: New Orleans 67, Orlando 50
• Access and continuity: New Orleans 96, Orlando 79

Where New Orleans is stronger

• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 3.2 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (City of New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits & U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2024–2025). Between 2 and 4: grade 1/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (metro figure) (New Orleans & Company / Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOLA Ready), 2025-2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 4/4.

Where Orlando is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 17.4 % of international arrivals or nights (metro figure) (Visit Orlando reported via Travel Weekly & Travelweek, 2025). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 101.1 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (metro figure) (Visit Orlando, Data and Trends & Historical Visitor Volume, 2025). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 71.4 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (Visit Orlando, Data and Trends, 2025). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• 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.
• Unemployment rate: 4.7 % of the labour force (metro figure) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economy at a Glance: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, July 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (City of Orlando Water Reclamation Division, 2024). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 22 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (USDA Forest Service / City of Atlantic Beach Tree Canopy Assessment (citing Nowak et al.), 2009). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source plus a reserve or stabilisation fund for downturns (Orange County Comptroller, 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

New Orleans in full · Orlando in full

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