Curaçao Tourism Hits Record High with Over 700,000 Arrivals in 2024
The Curaçao Tourism Board has proudly announced a historic milestone, with the island welcoming 700,249 stay-over visitors in 2024, setting a new tourism record. This achievement reflects a significant 20% growth compared to 2023, when the island received 117,844 fewer visitors. Curaçao's robust tourism growth underscores the success of its strategic marketing efforts and its positioning as a premier destination where travelers can "feel it for themselves."
In addition to stay-over visitors, the island hosted 35,499 day-trippers and 834,922 cruise passengers throughout the year, bringing the total number of arrivals to an impressive 1,570,670. This surge highlights Curaçao's ability to attract diverse types of travelers. December 2024 marked a particularly noteworthy month, with 73,669 visitors staying overnight, a 16% increase compared to December 2023. The Netherlands, the USA, and Colombia emerged as key markets driving this success, aided by expanded air service and new routes.
The Netherlands retained its position as Curaçao's primary source market, contributing 25,255 visitors in December 2024, up 9% from 23,111 in December 2023. Dutch visitors stayed an average of 13.9 nights, highlighting their strong engagement with the destination. Meanwhile, the United States demonstrated remarkable growth, with arrivals up 30% year-over-year, reaching 19,069 visitors in December 2024. US travelers averaged 6.4-night stays, with key feeder states including New York, Florida, and Texas.
Colombia, Curaçao’s third-largest source market, experienced a slight decline in December 2024, with 5,330 visitors, down 1% from 5,405 in December 2023. Despite this, Colombian tourists averaged a healthy 7.3-night stay on the island. Additionally, Canada and Brazil followed closely behind Colombia in December arrivals, underscoring the island’s appeal across multiple regions.
The Southern Cone markets, particularly Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, showed promising growth. Argentine arrivals surged by 69% in December 2024, with 590 visitors compared to 350 in December 2023, staying an average of 8.3 nights. Uruguay saw an even greater increase, with arrivals up 82%, from 65 visitors in December 2023 to 118 in December 2024. Chile also experienced modest growth of 8%, with 116 visitors staying an average of 9.3 nights.
This record-breaking year solidifies Curaçao’s status as a rising star in the Caribbean tourism landscape. With strong market performance, increased connectivity, and effective promotional strategies, the island is well-positioned to build on its success and welcome even more visitors in 2025. The Curaçao Tourism Board’s efforts have not only amplified the island’s global visibility but also fostered sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
