The name Blue Curaçao is globally known as Curaçao’s signature liqueur and has long been associated with Caribbean flair and island culture. Today, however, it represents something far more valuable: Curaçao’s emergence as a regional leader in ocean-driven innovation, conservation, and economic transformation.
Sustainable growth starts at sea
Curaçao is adopting a deliberate and forward-looking strategy to integrate the blue economy into its development model. This model leverages ocean resources to promote economic growth while ensuring long-term environmental sustainability. The island is building a diversified, resilient, and inclusive economy that is rooted in its most valuable natural asset: the sea. This is being done in close collaboration with scientific institutions, private sector stakeholders, and the community.
At the center of this vision is PROTEUS™, an advanced undersea research station located off the coast of Curaçao. Often referred to as the “International Space Station of the Ocean,” PROTEUS will facilitate work in marine science, robotics, and climate resilience. The station’s establishment reinforces Curaçao’s strategic positioning as a destination for cutting-edge ocean research and blue technology.
Local institutions such as CARMABI further strengthen this emphasis on ocean innovation. CARMABI continues to play an important role in marine biodiversity research and blue biotechnology. Current projects include developing algae-based health products and sustainable marine materials, fields offering both export potential and global relevance.
Curaçao has introduced a new initiative based on the blue economy: Blue Wellness Curaçao. This cross-sector concept establishes the island as the Caribbean’s premier destination for ocean-powered well-being. It brings together marine conservation, sustainable tourism, health innovation, culinary experiences, and creative entrepreneurship under a unified brand identity.
So, what does Blue Wellness Curaçao look like in practice?
This initiative is built on five interconnected pillars that bring Curaçao’s vision to life:
- Ocean wellness tourism—promoting physical and emotional health through therapeutic diving, ocean therapy, and ethical marine encounters.
- Blue culinary and nutrition—highlighting sea-to-table experiences and marine superfoods like spirulina, cultivated locally.
- Eco-wellness infrastructure and digital health—including thalassotherapy centers, reef-safe coastal resorts, and tech-driven platforms that link ocean immersion with wellness innovation.
- Education and the creative economy—with training programs in dive therapy, marine culinary arts, and cultural expression through film, art, and VR.
- Entrepreneurship and inclusive innovation—powered by incubators, eco-preneurship initiatives, and partnerships organizations such as Dolphin Academy, CARMABI, and key players in the hospitality sector.
Together, these elements form a new economic narrative that goes beyond tourism. Blue Wellness Curaçao redefines how health, sustainability, and culture can intersect through the ocean, placing Curaçao at the forefront of wellness-centered, regenerative island development.
This is also in accordance with Curaçao Nature Policy Plan (NPP) for the period 2024-2030. This plan will work towards the Blue Wellness Curaçao initiative in the following ways. Reducing human caused stressors to Curaçao’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity, reducing the impact of the climate on biodiversity, sustainable management plans for land and marine resources, tourism sector development that works in balance with nature, and greening the city, which entails securing nature inclusive development in downtown Willemstad.
Tourism remains a major pillar of Curaçao’s economy, contributing to employment and GDP. In 2024, the island welcomed over 700,000 stayover visitors, prompting investments in strategic studies and infrastructure to manage growth responsibly. Partnerships with international organizations are helping assess the island’s carrying capacity and ensure that tourism development aligns with environmental and social goals.
The local population is embracing the concept
A growing number of local businesses are also playing an active role in this transformation by investing in reef-friendly designs, supporting marine education, and adopting sustainable operational practices. This collective shift reflects the understanding that long-term economic success depends on environmental stewardship and cultural authenticity.
Curaçao’s blue economy initiatives, such as Blue Wellness Curaçao, closely align with the island’s National Export Strategy (NES) and several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 14: Life Below Water.
Looking ahead
By bridging sectors such as marine biotechnology, medical tourism, wellness tourism, educational services, and digital innovation, Curaçao is demonstrating how a small island can lead through strategic vision, creativity, and collaboration.
Today, Blue Curaçao represents more than just a liqueur or a color; it symbolizes a national transformation. It signals a future where Curaçao’s identity is deeply connected to the ocean, culturally, economically, and scientifically.
Through initiatives such as PROTEUS™ and Blue Wellness Curaçao and with the participation of its people and partners, Curaçao is redefining the concept of a sustainable island economy.
The future is blue, and Curaçao is ready to lead.
