Toronto vs Vancouver

Toronto leads Vancouver by 3 points on the CIRA Index, 81 to 78. Toronto grades better on 5 measures, Vancouver on 6; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Toronto 81, Vancouver 78
• OECD: Toronto 76, Vancouver 77
• UN Tourism: Toronto 82, Vancouver 76
• UNDRR: Toronto 76, Vancouver 75

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Toronto 45, Vancouver 70
• Economy and jobs: Toronto 92, Vancouver 92
• Climate and hazards: Toronto 70, Vancouver 70
• Water and environment: Toronto 88, Vancouver 63
• Community and housing: Toronto 94, Vancouver 83
• Access and continuity: Toronto 83, Vancouver 92

Where Toronto is stronger

• Flood hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 87.7 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (region figure) (Environment and Climate Change Canada / Statistics Canada, Municipal wastewater treatment indicator, 2022). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 242 kg per resident per year (City of Toronto, Solid Waste Reports & Diversion Rates, 2025). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
• Green space: 31 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (City of Toronto, Tree Canopy Study (CanopyTO), 2018). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Short-let density: 0.7 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (City of Toronto, Housing Needs Assessment & Statistics Canada 2021 Census of Population, March 2025). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.

Where Vancouver is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 29 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Destination British Columbia, Regional Tourism Profile: Vancouver, Coast & Mountains, 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 78.4 % average annual occupancy (metro figure) (CoStar / STR, Canada hotels post record-setting performance in 2025, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 1.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (City of Vancouver & Destination BC, Emergency Preparedness and Response, 2024–2026). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Destination BC & Destination Canada, Crisis & Emergency Planning Framework, 2024–2025). Grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Canada: #14 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Canada: #14 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Toronto in full · Vancouver in full

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