Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland, scores 73 on the CIRA Index of tourism resilience, #28 of 309 destinations. 27 of 29 measures come from public sources, with 79% confidence. Every grade below states its value, period and source.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: 73
- OECD: 74
- UN Tourism: 74
- UNDRR: 72
Strongest
- Unemployment rate: 3.3 % of the labour force (Statistik Stadt Zürich, Arbeitslosigkeit, August 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Extreme heat days: 0 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: 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.
Weakest
- Municipal waste per resident: 664 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Federal Statistical Office (FSO) / IDK-DB, 2024). Between 550 and 700: grade 1/4.
- Average length of stay: 1.8 nights per visitor (region figure) (Zürich Tourismus, Tourismusbilanz 2024, 2024). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Zürich Tourismus, 2025–2026). Grade 1/4.
Switzerland in the World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Development Index
Switzerland is #9 of 110 countries (4.97 of 7) in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, which scores countries, not cities. Cities in countries with that WEF score average 67 on the CIRA Index; Zurich is 6 above that.
Every measure, by theme
Demand and seasonality: 63
- Nights in the three busiest months: 31.8 % of annual nights (country figure) (Federal Statistical Office (BFS), Medienmitteilung: Neuer Rekord: Die Schweizer Hotellerie verzeichnete 2024 fast 43 Millionen Logiernächte, 2024). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4. Source
- Domestic share of nights: 38.7 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Zürich Tourismus via Keystone-SDA / SWI swissinfo.ch, 2025). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4. Source
- Largest foreign market: 22 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (Zürich Tourismus via Keystone-SDA / SWI swissinfo.ch, 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4. Source
- Recovery against 2019: 112.7 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Federal Statistical Office (FSO / BFS), Schweizer Tourismusstatistik / HESTA, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4. Source
- Average length of stay: 1.8 nights per visitor (region figure) (Zürich Tourismus, Tourismusbilanz 2024, 2024). Between 1.8 and 2.2: grade 1/4. Source
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 64.3 % average annual occupancy (region figure) (Federal Statistical Office (FSO / BFS), Tourist accommodation in 2024, 2024). Between 55 and 65: grade 2/4. Source
Economy and jobs: 100
- Jobs in tourism industries: 4.8 % 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. Source
- Unemployment rate: 3.3 % of the labour force (Statistik Stadt Zürich, Arbeitslosigkeit, August 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
- Income per head: 102,513 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4. Source
- Economic diversity: not measured yet
Climate and hazards: 85
- Extreme heat days: 0 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4. Source
- 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. Source
- Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4. Source
- Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4. Source
- Country disaster risk: 1.9 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4. Source
Water and environment: 75
- Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4. Source
- Wastewater safely treated: 97 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) / FOEN via Nature Recovery Network, 2022). At or above 95: grade 4/4. Source
- Municipal waste per resident: 664 kg per resident per year (country figure) (Federal Statistical Office (FSO) / IDK-DB, 2024). Between 550 and 700: grade 1/4. Source
- Green space: 43 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Urban Forestry & Urban Greening / City of Zurich Grün Stadt Zürich, 2021). At or above 40: grade 4/4. Source
Community and housing: 75
- Tourism intensity: 8.9 visitor nights per resident per year (Stadt Zürich (Statistisches Amt / Tourismusstatistik & Bevölkerungsbestand), 2024). Between 5 and 10: grade 3/4. Source
- Cruise pressure: not measured yet
- Rent growth: 2.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (SMG Swiss Marketplace Group / ZKB, Homegate Rent Index, 2025). At or below 3: grade 4/4. Source
- Short-let density: 1.5 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (AirDNA & Statistik Stadt Zürich, August 2026). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4. Source
- Resident support for tourism: not measured yet
Access and continuity: 71
- Access redundancy: 3 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (SBB, Flughafen Zürich, Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA), 2026). Between 3 and 4: grade 3/4. Source
- Air traffic recovery: not measured yet
- Rail share of intercity access: not measured yet
- Rail traffic recovery: not measured yet
- Largest airline group share: not measured yet
- Air route concentration: not measured yet
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (SWI swissinfo.ch & Stadt Zürich Schutz & Rettung, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4. Source
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Zürich Tourismus, 2025–2026). Grade 1/4. Source
- Government effectiveness: 98.6 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4. Source
- 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. Source
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Comparis / TripFinch Swiss Tourist Tax Overview, 2026). Grade 2/4. Source
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