New Orleans vs Washington
New Orleans and Washington are level on the CIRA Index at 71. New Orleans grades better on 6 measures, Washington on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: New Orleans 71, Washington 71
- OECD: New Orleans 67, Washington 72
- UN Tourism: New Orleans 73, Washington 70
- UNDRR: New Orleans 73, Washington 69
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: New Orleans 67, Washington 90
- Economy and jobs: New Orleans 67, Washington 92
- Climate and hazards: New Orleans 40, Washington 60
- Water and environment: New Orleans 69, Washington 56
- Community and housing: New Orleans 67, Washington 75
- Access and continuity: New Orleans 96, Washington 71
Where New Orleans is stronger
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 405.3 kg per resident per year (Louisiana Legislative Auditor, City of New Orleans - Residential Trash and Recyclables Collection, 2024). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- 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.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (City of New Orleans / New Orleans & Company, 2025). Grade 3/4.
Where Washington is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 11.7 % of international arrivals or nights (Destination DC, 2024 Annual Visitor Statistics (citing Tourism Economics), 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Recovery against 2019: 108.4 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Destination DC, 2024). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 72 % average annual occupancy (Destination DC, 2024 Annual Visitor Statistics (STR), 2024). 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.
- Tropical nights: 54.4 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.
- Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Green space: 37 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Urban Forestry Division / DOEE, Washington DC's Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, 2020). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
- Short-let density: 2 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Inside Airbnb & U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, 2024). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
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 · Washington in full
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