WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao’s tourism industry continues its strong upward trend and appears headed for another record-breaking year.

According to the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA), local hotels reported higher occupancy rates and increased revenue in September compared to the same month last year.

The average hotel occupancy rose to 73.1 percent, while both the average daily room rate and revenue per available room saw clear growth.

The number of stayover visitors increased by 7.6 percent, surpassing 53,000, while cruise tourism also grew by 7.1 percent. The only decline was seen in day tourism, which dropped by roughly 20 percent.

CHATA attributes the sector’s strong performance to robust market demand and stable pricing, and expects the final quarter of the year to once again be the best period for the island’s tourism industry.