Melbourne vs Sydney

Sydney leads Melbourne by 5 points on the TRAIL Index, 75 to 70. Melbourne grades better on 6 measures, Sydney on 8; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• TRAIL Index: Melbourne 70, Sydney 75
• OECD: Melbourne 69, Sydney 75
• UN Tourism: Melbourne 71, Sydney 73
• UNDRR: Melbourne 69, Sydney 71

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Melbourne 70, Sydney 85
• Economy and jobs: Melbourne 100, Sydney 94
• Climate and hazards: Melbourne 60, Sydney 90
• Water and environment: Melbourne 63, Sydney 75
• Community and housing: Melbourne 25, Sydney 25
• Access and continuity: Melbourne 88, Sydney 71

Where Melbourne is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 38.9 % of nights by residents of the same country (Tourism Research Australia via .id community (City of Melbourne Economic Profile), 2023/24). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
• Economic diversity: 81.3 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (City of Melbourne / economy.id (NIEIR National Accounts regional econometric model), 2024/25). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
• Tropical nights: 2.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
• Rent growth: 5 % change in rents over the last 12 months (metro figure) (OpenAgent / Cotality (CoreLogic), year to August 2026). Between 3 and 6: grade 3/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Victoria State Government, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, 'Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan', 2021–2024). Grade 3/4.
• Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source partly ring-fenced for residents, infrastructure or sustainability (State Revenue Office Victoria, Short Stay Levy Act 2024, 2025). Grade 3/4.

Where Sydney is stronger

• 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.
• Hotel bed or room occupancy: 76.9 % average annual occupancy (STR / Savills Australian Hotel Market Outlook Q3 2024, Jan–Sep 2024). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 3 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: 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.
• Green space: 21.9 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (metro figure) (NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, Urban heat and canopy data, 2024–25). Between 20 and 30: grade 2/4.
• Tourism intensity: 22.8 visitor nights per resident per year (metro figure) (Destination NSW (Sydney Statistics) & Australian Bureau of Statistics (ERP via economy.id), YE March 2026). Between 20 and 40: grade 1/4.

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

Melbourne in full · Sydney in full

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