Tourism contributes $35.2 million to Curacao economy

Using the ‘Turistika Model’, CTB and MEO calculated that in January 2014 the tourism sector was directly responsible for generating 35.2 million US dollars into the local economy.

Using the ‘Turistika Model’, CTB and MEO calculated that in January 2014 the tourism sector was directly responsible for generating 35.2 million US dollars into the local economy.

January of 2013 generated a total of 33.0 million US dollars. European stay over visitors, who visited Curacao in greater numbers during January 2014, spent a total 18 million US dollars, about 51% of the total.

They were followed by the South Americans who spent 8.1 million US dollars and the North Americans who spent 6.6 million US dollars. The Caribbean visitors spent a total of 1.6 million US dollars in 2014.

All together the preliminary visitor statistics gathered by the Curacao Tourist Board (CTB) show that 37.415 stay over visitors arrived to the Island of Curacao in January 2014. This figure was 4% higher than the arrival figures recorded for the same month last year. In 2013 CTB recorded 36.083 stay over visitors in January.

The European market registered a 13% increase in January 2014. The market provided a total of 17.699 stay over arrivals compared to the 15.598 in January of 2013. The main producing country, The Netherlands increased by 13% to 13.515 in January 2014 compared to 11.986 in 2013.

This is the result of great marketing efforts in close partnership with the tour operators Corendon, TUI and Kuoni/Does & Cadushi. Germany also grew with a 3% increase in January 2014. A total of 1.335 visitors were welcomed. Last year this same month recorded 1.229 German visitors.

The South American market decreased by 6% in January 2014, with a total of 9.485 stay over arrivals compared to 10.054 in 2013. The current situation in Venezuela reflects back in the arrival figures. A total of 6.092 visitors were registered during January 2014. This is a 4% decrease from Venezuela.

Due to this situation CTB will be focusing more on marketing actions in other countries within the South American region. Colombia and Suriname also registered a decrease in stay over arrivals, with, respectively 4% and 24% less visitors.

In absolute figures Colombia and Suriname registered 917 and 546 stay over arrivals. Visitor arrival from Brazil grew by 15%. A total of 1.192 stay over visitors were welcomed from this country in January 2014.

Stay over arrivals from North America decreased by 1% in January with a total of 6.212 visitors compared to the 6.266 visitor arrivals January 2013. The United States with 4.112 stay over arrivals recorded a 13% decrease.

Canada recorded a 35% increase with 2.100 stay over arrivals this January 2014. This increase is due to the effect of marketing actions combined with 3 weekly flights from Toronto (West Jet, Air Canada and Sunwing). In 2013 we had two flights to Curacao from Canada (West Jet and Air Canada).

Stay over visitors to Curacao from the Caribbean region decreased by 7% in January 2014. A total of 2.542 visitors are registered. Aruba shows a decrease of 5%. In 2014 1.465 arrivals were recorded from this country. A reason for this decrease might be that this year the Tumba Festival was in February. This event is always well visited by Aruban citizens. Last year the Tumba Festival was held in January.

The overall nights spent on the island increased by 9%. All together visitors stayed 368.719 nights in Curacao compared to 338.480 nights in January 2013. The European market recorded 14% more visitor nights (21.974 nights), North America recorded a 3% growth in visitor nights and South America recorded a 2% growth in visitor nights.

The only region recording a decrease in visitor nights is the Caribbean region. The neighbor islands show a decline of 3% in the number of visitor nights (17.802 nights).

The average number of nights spent on the island is 9.85 in January 2014. Last year this same month we registered an average stay of 9.38. Although the North American, South American and Caribbean region registered less stay over visitors their average number of nights increased. The table below shows an overview of the average number of nights spent by region.

About the author

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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