Palma vs Rhodes

Palma leads Rhodes by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 54 to 50. Palma grades better on 10 measures, Rhodes on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Palma 54, Rhodes 50
• OECD: Palma 53, Rhodes 49
• UN Tourism: Palma 51, Rhodes 52
• UNDRR: Palma 54, Rhodes 62

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Palma 46, Rhodes 46
• Economy and jobs: Palma 83, Rhodes 75
• Climate and hazards: Palma 55, Rhodes 35
• Water and environment: Palma 38, Rhodes 38
• Community and housing: Palma 35, Rhodes 25
• Access and continuity: Palma 69, Rhodes 79

Where Palma is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 40.8 % of annual nights (region figure) (IBESTAT / INE, Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera, 2024). Between 40 and 50: grade 1/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 74.2 % average annual occupancy (INE (Instituto Nacional de Estadística), Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera: Puntos Turísticos, 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 7.1 % 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: 93.2 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 82.3 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme & UN-Habitat (SDG 6.3.1), 2022). Between 70 and 85: grade 2/4.
• Tourism intensity: 21.1 visitor nights per resident per year (INE (Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera & Censo Anual de Población), 2023). Between 20 and 40: grade 1/4.
• Rent growth: 5.9 % change in rents over the last 12 months (idealista, Informe de precios de alquiler, August 2025 – August 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Aena / Autoritat Portuària de Balears / Consell de Mallorca, 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4.
• Government effectiveness: 83 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Where Rhodes is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 26.8 % of international arrivals or nights (Fraport Greece, Rhodes Airport 'Diagoras' - Traffic Report by Country, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 111.7 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (Greek Trip Planner / Fraport Greece, 2025). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 519 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA) / Eurostat, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Resident support for tourism: 67.2 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (country figure) (Eteron Research, 2024). Between 60 and 70: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan tested in an exercise or a real event, with lessons published (Greek Ministry of Tourism / Gov.gr, 2023–2024). Grade 4/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 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). At or below 1: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Palma in full · Rhodes in full

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