Curacao welcomed more than 63,000 tourists in March of this year. By the end of the fourth week of the month, the island had set a new record for overnight tourist arrivals.
Curacao has seen a boom in tourism across the island in recent years. According to the Curacao Tourism Board, the island will welcome more than 60,000 overnight guests each month from December to March 2023, and overall see a 38% increase in visitor numbers over last year. What's behind the island's sudden rise in popularity?
Curacao: A chic and affordable new Caribbean destination
Curacao has always been popular with a diverse range of tourists, with the majority of visitors coming from Europe, 40% to be specific.
Tourists from the United States and Canada are not far behind, accounting for 38% of the market share. In March this year, the island welcomed a record number of over 18,000 tourists from the United States, up 58% from last year.
Visitors from South America make up 17% of the total and visitors from the Caribbean make up 4%. Curacao boasts global appeal and welcomes an increasing number of visitors from all over the world every year.
The island is popular with a wide range of age groups, especially young tourists and families: the largest group of tourists (36%) are between 25 and 44 years old, followed by the 45 to 64 age group (35%).
Curacao: A deceptive destination?
Last November, Expedia released a report on travel dupes for 2024. Travel dupes are one of the latest TikTok trends. These vacation destinations are less crowded and often significantly cheaper, but feature the same cultural or adventure-oriented characteristics as the most popular travel destinations.
The Expedia article suggests some great potential travel destinations: Taipei instead of Seoul, Memphis instead of Nashville, Paros instead of Santorini, Quebec instead of Geneva, Liverpool instead of London, and more.
It's no surprise that destinations are becoming more popular as travel destinations become more popular. After all, many of the hottest vacation spots are more expensive than other places because they're becoming more popular. The more tourists flock to these destinations, the higher the general costs of traveling, including airfare, accommodation, and visiting local attractions. And the more popular a destination is, the greater the crowds will be.
Curacao is often used as a model for the popular island of St. Maarten, which attracts hordes of tourists from around the world every year. The Caribbean island receives over one million visitors each year through its international airport.
In fact, destination dummies may be the new travel trend that will continue to dominate this year: Expedia reports that dummy searches for these hot spots have skyrocketed around the world: Taipei searches have increased 2,786% globally, while Pattaya's search popularity has increased 249%.
Flight searches for these fake airlines have also skyrocketed, with people searching for flights to Curacao up 185%, while searches for flights to Perth and Liverpool have increased by 109% and 97%, respectively.
A destination that's like a replica of St. Maarten, Curacao has a lot to offer. St. Maarten is half French, half Dutch, while Curacao has its own Dutch history. Sparkling golden beaches and turquoise waters await you. The Caribbean nation of Curacao has all the charm of St. Maarten and more. It's no wonder that searches for the island worldwide have increased by 228%.
Curacao has around eight all-inclusive resorts for vacationers to choose from. Ranging from family-friendly resorts to intimate adult-only resorts, these resorts offer beachfront access and relaxation with the convenience of a highly-rated all-inclusive resort.
While St. Maarten flaunts its French colonial history with its beautiful architecture, Handelskade Coast in Curaçao is a magnet for charm. Not only are the 18th century buildings steeped in history, they're also visually stunning, with rows of pastel-coloured buildings that will transport you back in time.
Scuba diving is a popular tourist activity in Curacao, and exploring the Mushroom Forest coral reefs off the island's coast is a bucket list experience.
The food here is also worth trying: the cuisine is a mix of African, European and Caribbean influences. Pasteki, a deep-fried pastry, and carni stew are must-try dishes on any trip to Curacao.
