Chengdu vs Sapporo
Chengdu and Sapporo are level on the TRAIL Index at 70. Chengdu grades better on 6 measures, Sapporo on 11; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: Chengdu 70, Sapporo 70
- OECD: Chengdu 64, Sapporo 69
- UN Tourism: Chengdu 81, Sapporo 80
- UNDRR: Chengdu 64, Sapporo 65
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Chengdu 58, Sapporo 63
- Economy and jobs: Chengdu 75, Sapporo 69
- Climate and hazards: Chengdu 40, Sapporo 65
- Water and environment: Chengdu 94, Sapporo 100
- Community and housing: Chengdu 100, Sapporo 63
- Access and continuity: Chengdu 63, Sapporo 75
Where Chengdu is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 15 % of international arrivals or nights (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, Chengdu Statistical Yearbook 2025, 2024). Between 15 and 20: grade 3/4.
- Average length of stay: 2.4 nights per visitor (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Statistics, Chengdu Statistical Yearbook 2025 (Table 12-9: Main Tourism Indicators in Golden Weeks), 2024). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
- Jobs in tourism industries: 5.4 % 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.
- Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Rent growth: -7.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (CRIC Long-Term Rental Research Center (克而瑞长租), 2025 Chengdu Housing Rental Market Development Report, 2025). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A written destination crisis plan (Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Broadcast, Film and Tourism, 2024). Grade 2/4.
Where Sapporo is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 34.3 % of annual nights (City of Sapporo, 2025年度札幌の観光動向に関する調査結果について, FY2025 (April 2025 – March 2026)). Between 30 and 35: grade 3/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 70.4 % average annual occupancy (Japan Tourism Agency (MLIT), Overnight Travel Statistics Survey (宿泊旅行統計調査), October 2023 – September 2024). Between 65 and 75: grade 3/4.
- Income per head: 35,500 GDP per capita, USD PPP (Harvard Growth Lab, Metroverse Sapporo Economic Composition, 2020). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4.
- 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: 25 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.
- Country disaster risk: 2 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Sapporo International Communication Plaza Foundation & City of Sapporo, 2025). Grade 4/4.
- Government effectiveness: 99.5 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
- 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 (Hokkaido Prefectural Government & City of Sapporo, 2026). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- China: #8 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Japan: #1 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Chengdu in full · Sapporo in full
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