Colombo vs Hong Kong

Colombo and Hong Kong are level on the TRAIL Index at 69. Colombo grades better on 5 measures, Hong Kong on 7; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Colombo 69, Hong Kong 69
• OECD: Colombo 61, Hong Kong 68
• UN Tourism: Colombo 69, Hong Kong 76
• UNDRR: Colombo 51, Hong Kong 68

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Colombo 71, Hong Kong 56
• Economy and jobs: Colombo 75, Hong Kong 100
• Climate and hazards: Colombo 45, Hong Kong 38
• Water and environment: Colombo 56, Hong Kong 69
• Community and housing: Colombo 100, Hong Kong 75
• Access and continuity: Colombo 58, Hong Kong 79

Where Colombo is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 20.3 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Year in Review 2024, 2024). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Recovery against 2019: 101 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority / Road Genius, 2024). Between 100 and 110: grade 3/4.
• Average length of stay: 8.4 nights per visitor (country figure) (Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), Annual Statistical Report 2023, 2023). At or above 3.5: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 346.8 kg per resident per year (Colombo Municipal Council / RTI Sri Lanka, 2020). At or below 350: grade 4/4.

Where Hong Kong is stronger

• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 87 % average annual occupancy (GovHK / Hong Kong Tourism Board, Hong Kong: The Facts - Tourism, 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Income per head: 75,216 GDP per capita, USD PPP (World Bank, World Development Indicators, 2024). At or above 60,000: grade 4/4.
• Economic diversity: 81.5 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong SAR - Table 210-06305, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 94.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (Drainage Services Department, HKSAR Government - Sustainability Report 2023-24, 2023-2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Green space: 47 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Husqvarna Urban Green Space Index (HUGSI), 2023). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Hong Kong Observatory and Security Bureau, 2025–2026). Grade 4/4.
• Government effectiveness: 92 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). At or above 80: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Sri Lanka: #69 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Colombo in full · Hong Kong in full

The TRAIL Index ranking · City vs city · How the index works · TRAIL Studio · Put your city in the pilot