Cartagena vs Córdoba

Cartagena leads Córdoba by 1 points on the TRAIL Index, 56 to 55. Cartagena grades better on 7 measures, Córdoba on 10; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Cartagena 56, Córdoba 55
• OECD: Cartagena 55, Córdoba 53
• UN Tourism: Cartagena 64, Córdoba 54
• UNDRR: Cartagena 50, Córdoba 48

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Cartagena 69, Córdoba 60
• Economy and jobs: Cartagena 31, Córdoba 67
• Climate and hazards: Cartagena 40, Córdoba 40
• Water and environment: Cartagena 83, Córdoba 44
• Community and housing: Cartagena 50, Córdoba 50
• Access and continuity: Cartagena 50, Córdoba 67

Where Cartagena is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 29.1 % of international arrivals or nights (El Universal / Corpoturismo (Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias), 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 70 % average annual occupancy (Cotelco Capítulo Cartagena y Bolívar, 2023). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
• Extreme heat days: 3.2 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.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 100 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Aguas de Cartagena / Cartagena Cómo Vamos (Informe de Calidad de Vida 2025), 2025). At or above 95: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (country figure) (DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística), Boletín técnico IPC, August 2025 – August 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo (MINCIT) & FONTUR Colombia, 2024). Grade 2/4.

Where Córdoba is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 95.6 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (INDEC & Subsecretaría de Turismo de la Nación - Encuesta de Ocupación Hotelera (EOH), November 2025). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Jobs in tourism industries: 3.4 % 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.
• Unemployment rate: 10.5 % of the labour force (metro figure) (INDEC - Mercado de trabajo. Tasas e indicadores socioeconómicos (EPH), Q2 2026). Between 8 and 12: grade 2/4.
• Income per head: 32,587 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4.
• Tropical nights: 45 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 30 and 60: grade 2/4.
• Country disaster risk: 3.9 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 3.5 and 5: grade 2/4.
• Short-let density: 0.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Airbtics / INDEC Censo Nacional de Población, Hogares y Viviendas 2022, 2025–2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Municipalidad de Córdoba, Subsecretaría de Turismo, 2025–2026). Grade 2/4.
• Government effectiveness: 60.4 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: 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.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Colombia: #54 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Argentina: #48 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Cartagena in full · Córdoba in full

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