Brisbane vs Sydney

Brisbane leads Sydney by 3 points on the TRAIL Index, 78 to 75. Brisbane grades better on 6 measures, Sydney on 6; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Brisbane 78, Sydney 75
• OECD: Brisbane 75, Sydney 75
• UN Tourism: Brisbane 83, Sydney 73
• UNDRR: Brisbane 74, Sydney 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Brisbane 75, Sydney 85
• Economy and jobs: Brisbane 94, Sydney 94
• Climate and hazards: Brisbane 50, Sydney 90
• Water and environment: Brisbane 88, Sydney 75
• Community and housing: Brisbane 69, Sydney 25
• Access and continuity: Brisbane 83, Sydney 71

Where Brisbane is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 49.7 % of nights by residents of the same country (Brisbane Economic Development Agency / Tourism Research Australia, Brisbane's visitor economy surges to $17 billion, 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Green space: 44 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Greens Councillor for Paddington Ward / Brisbane City Council data citation, 2024). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Short-let density: 0.5 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (metro figure) (AirROI and Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021 Census), August 2025 – July 2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Brisbane City Council, Local Disaster Management Plan & Brisbane Severe Weather Alert Service, 2024). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Queensland Government Department of Tourism and Sport & Tourism and Events Queensland, 2024). Grade 3/4.

Where Sydney is stronger

• Nights in the three busiest months: 30.4 % 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.
• Largest foreign market: 13.9 % of international arrivals or nights (region figure) (NSW Government / Destination NSW, Tourism Research Australia (IVS), 2025-2026). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 28.6 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 400 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Local Government Waste Data Survey 2024–25, 2024–25). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Australia: #4 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Australia: #4 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Brisbane in full · Sydney in full

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