Curaçao Celebrates Historic Tourism Numbers In May 2023

Last week, the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) announced Curaçao’s visitor numbers for the month of May, and the figures were astounding. With a total of 43,532 stayover visitors, representing a significant 22% increase compared to May 2022’s tally of 35,813 tourists, Curaçao has achieved a historic milestone. This marks the first time in history that Curaçao has welcomed over 43,000 stayover arrivals in the month of May, shattering the previous record set in 2019 when CTB recorded 36,386 stayover arrivals.

Although May typically experiences a slight decline in arrivals due to seasonal factors, the fact that Curaçao managed to maintain figures above 43,000 visitors highlights the tremendous demand for the destination.

Stayover arrivals by region in May 2023 demonstrated noteworthy growth. Tourist arrivals from the North American region witnessed a remarkable doubling, recording a staggering 138% increase. The influx of 12,178 North American visitors not only indicates a promising trend for continued growth but also underscores the strong appeal of Curaçao to this market segment.

Furthermore, South America experienced a substantial rise in visitor arrivals, with a notable 51% growth. The Caribbean region also contributed to the positive trend, recording a 30% increase in visitors compared to the previous year.

In contrast, Europe experienced a slight decline in visitor arrivals, falling by 14%. However, it remains the primary region for arrivals, constituting 43% of all visitors to Curaçao.

Analyzing the top five countries, it is evident that their combined share of arrivals in May 2023 amounted to 32,995 visitors, accounting for an impressive 76% of the total. Notably, while there was a decline in stayover arrivals from the Netherlands, primarily due to reduced seat capacity from the Dutch market, the diversification strategy of attracting visitors from other top-performing countries has yielded positive results. The CTB reports that although fewer Dutch visitors arrived in May 2023, the numbers are comparable to those recorded in May 2019 when 15,713 Dutch visitors were welcomed.

On the other hand, the United States witnessed a significant surge in arrivals, recording a remarkable 138% increase. The CTB attributes this growth to the fruitful collaboration between the public and private sectors in promoting Curaçao in the United States, as well as the introduction of expanded services by JetBlue from JFK Airport since April 6th.

In addition to the impressive stayover arrivals, Curaçao also experienced notable cruise activity in May. A total of 15 cruise ship calls and 40,697 cruise visitors were recorded this year, a significant increase compared to the figures reported by the Curaçao Ports Authority in May of the previous year, which amounted to eight cruise ship calls and 28,362 cruise passengers.

The remarkable achievements of Curaçao’s tourism industry in May 2023 signify the destination’s growing popularity and appeal to visitors from various regions. As the CTB continues to implement effective marketing strategies and collaborations, it is expected that Curaçao will sustain this positive trajectory, positioning itself as a premier choice for travelers seeking a remarkable Caribbean experience.

Source: curacaochronicle.com