Inside Curaçao’s Game-Changing Tourism Strategy

The Curaçao National Tourism Conference, held on September 27, 2024, marked a crucial moment in the island’s journey toward sustainable tourism. Organized by the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB), and the Curaçao Hospitality & Tourism Association (CHATA), the event brought together over 300 participants, including government officials, local stakeholders, and international experts. The conference served as the culmination of five pre-conference sessions that had been held earlier in the year to address the challenges facing Curaçao’s tourism sector.

Keynote speaker, Dona Regis-Prosper, Secretary-General and CEO of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, emphasized the Caribbean’s reliance on tourism, noting that it contributes 11.4% to the region’s GDP and generates around $41.4 billion annually. Her speech centered around the «5 P’s» of sustainable tourism: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose, and Partnership, with an additional «P» for Peace, resonating with the theme of World Tourism Day 2024.

A significant outcome of the conference was the presentation of 12 key resolutions designed to foster sustainable growth. These include creating a new implementation structure involving five ministries, formalized by a national decree. This structure is expected to streamline efforts to achieve the goals outlined in the Strategic Tourism Destination Development Plan, ensuring that sustainability remains at the forefront of Curaçao’s tourism strategy​.

Source: curacaochronicle.com