Record visitor numbers out of America

Curacao’s tourism sector is said to have been “fully recovered” from the impact of the pandemic, with a surge in bookings taking place for the Caribbean destination.

Tourism officials are reporting growth in business buoyed by a very strong September 2022 that saw 32,510 visitors vacationing in the Dutch Caribbean island, known for its beaches tucked into coves and its expansive coral reefs rich with marine life.

The Curacao Tourist Board (CTB) is reporting 355,661 stayover visitor arrivals in the first three quarters of 2022, which is a 103 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019. This is up from the 346,464 arrivals in January-September 2019. 

RECORD-BREAKING STAYOVER ARRIVALS ANTICIPATED

“With this information, CTB proudly announce that pre-pandemic stayover arrivals have been fully recovered,” the tourist board said in a statement to the local media. 

According to the CTB, “it is with great pleasure that we will reach the overall arrivals realised in the year 2019 by end of this year and even welcome a record-breaking number of stayover arrivals if the circumstances remain as is”.

While Europe remains the predominant source market for the island, Caribbean Journal says the US market after many years is finally showing growth as a source market. September arrivals from America more than double the number in 2019, strengthened by the entry of Jamaican hotel chain, Sandals to the market over the summer.

The positive performance is also attributed to the continued growth of Apple Leisure Group on the island. This is the fourth month in a row in which Curacao saw a new record for tourism out of America. 

“[We are] seeing great demand out of the US market,” the CTB said, adding that “Curacao now offers a greater pool of US-branded resort hotels, which is reaping its benefit, especially for the US market”.