Alicante vs Sofia

Alicante and Sofia are level on the TRAIL Index at 58. Alicante grades better on 9 measures, Sofia on 6; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Alicante 58, Sofia 58
• OECD: Alicante 59, Sofia 56
• UN Tourism: Alicante 60, Sofia 55
• UNDRR: Alicante 60, Sofia 56

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Alicante 65, Sofia 45
• Economy and jobs: Alicante 88, Sofia 83
• Climate and hazards: Alicante 45, Sofia 65
• Water and environment: Alicante 42, Sofia 44
• Community and housing: Alicante 56, Sofia 58
• Access and continuity: Alicante 66, Sofia 63

Where Alicante is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 33.3 % of annual nights (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: UN Tourism by United Nations World Tourism Organization), 2024, 2025 moving average). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
• Domestic share of nights: 42.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (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). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 73.3 % average annual occupancy (INE, Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera, puntos turísticos (monthly, tables 2078 and 2076), 2025). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Income per head: 59,868 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 45,000 and 60,000: grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 81.2 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / UN-Water / WHO, SDG Indicator 6.3.1 Database, 2022). Between 70 and 85: grade 2/4.
• Rent growth: 7.3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Idealista, Informe de precios de alquiler en Comunitat Valenciana, August 2025 – August 2026). Between 6 and 10: grade 2/4.
• Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (Alicante Turismo - ALICANTE City & Beach, 'How to Get to Alicante', 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Patronato de Turismo Alicante City&Beach, 'Plan Estratégico Alicante como Destino Turístico Sostenible 2023-2027', 2023–2027). Grade 2/4.
• 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 Sofia is stronger

• Tropical nights: 7.6 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.
• Municipal waste per resident: 488 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA) / Eurostat, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Tourism intensity: 1.8 visitor nights per resident per year (region figure) (National Statistical Institute (NSI) of Bulgaria, District Sofia (Stolitsa), 2024). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.6 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (metro figure) (AirDNA and Eurostat / National Statistical Institute (NSI) Bulgaria Census, 2025–2026). Between 0.5 and 1: grade 3/4.
• 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.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Ministry of Finance / Sofia Municipality, 2024–2025). Grade 2/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Bulgaria: #39 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Alicante in full · Sofia in full

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