Heraklion vs Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Heraklion leads Las Palmas de Gran Canaria by 1 points on the TRAIL Index, 60 to 59. Heraklion grades better on 10 measures, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 7; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Heraklion 60, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 59
• OECD: Heraklion 54, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 59
• UN Tourism: Heraklion 64, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 52
• UNDRR: Heraklion 60, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 52

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Heraklion 38, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 80
• Economy and jobs: Heraklion 69, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 33
• Climate and hazards: Heraklion 45, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 60
• Water and environment: Heraklion 75, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 42
• Community and housing: Heraklion 50, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 55
• Access and continuity: Heraklion 71, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 67

Where Heraklion is stronger

• Jobs in tourism industries: 10.9 % 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). Between 8 and 12: grade 3/4.
• Unemployment rate: 6.9 % of the labour force (region figure) (Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) Labour Force Survey / The Kolymbari Courier, Q4 2025). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
• Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 92.1 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Global SDG Database / WHO / UN-Habitat (Indicator 6.3.1), 2024). Between 85 and 95: grade 3/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 519 kg per resident per year (country figure) (European Environment Agency (EEA), Country profile waste management – Greece, 2022). Between 450 and 550: grade 2/4.
• Resident support for tourism: 89.9 % of residents who say tourism benefits them or the city (region figure) (Accounting and Financial Management Laboratory of the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA) / ΟΙΚΟΔΟΜiN, 2024). At or above 70: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: Crisis communication only, ad hoc (Region of Crete Tourism Directorate / Ministry of Tourism, 2024). Grade 1/4.
• 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 partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (Greek Ministry of National Economy and Finance / Law 5073/2023, 2024). Grade 3/4.

Where Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 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: 56.3 % of nights by residents of the same country (Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria / ISTAC (Sistema de Inteligencia del Turismo Sostenible), 2022). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
• Largest foreign market: 23.8 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Extreme heat days: 0.2 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.
• Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Tourism intensity: 3.7 visitor nights per resident per year (Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria / ISTAC & Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), 2022). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• 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.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Greece: #21 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Heraklion in full · Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in full

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