Tourism is the beating heart of Curaçao’s economy. Every year, thousands of visitors choose our island for its beauty, culture, and hospitality. But before they experience our beaches, cuisine, and people, their very first contact with Curaçao happens at the airport—at the immigration desk.
That first encounter matters. It sets the tone for the entire trip. An immigration officer is not just a gatekeeper of national security; they are, in fact, our island’s first ambassador. The welcome they provide—or fail to provide—can define how a visitor perceives Curaçao.
A recent social media post painfully illustrated just how damaging a negative experience at the airport can be. A family arriving in Curaçao described being made to wait for hours in line with young children, only to be subjected to repeated and humiliating questions about whether the children even belonged to their mother. The situation escalated when the officer reportedly told the mother, “I will fix you”, and refused to return the family’s passports.
Confused, stressed, and with hungry, crying children, the family described feeling “held hostage” by the process. Ultimately, it was only after a supervisor intervened—after more than two hours—that the family was able to proceed. The visitor concluded: “This was my first time visiting Curaçao, and my trip has been ruined.”
This is not the impression we want visitors to leave with.
Of course, immigration officers have an important and difficult job. They are entrusted with safeguarding our borders, enforcing regulations, and ensuring that all travelers comply with entry requirements. They must ask hard questions when needed, and they must remain vigilant. But there is a way to do this without humiliating, belittling, or intimidating travelers.
Professionalism, courtesy, and respect must always guide their work. If a visitor does not have their documents in order, there is no justification for making them feel worthless. Information should be shared clearly. Guidance should be given firmly, but with dignity. And officers should remember that the majority of passengers are genuine tourists, who have invested time, money, and trust in visiting Curaçao.
It is worth remembering that tourism is not just another sector—it is one of the pillars of our economy. When visitors feel unwelcome at the border, they don’t just carry away bad memories. They tell others. In today’s world of social media and online reviews, one negative story can reach thousands, discouraging future travelers from choosing Curaçao.
Immigration officers should be given the training, support, and resources they need to perform their duties with both efficiency and humanity. And the government should ensure proper staffing levels to avoid long, exhausting waits that fuel frustration on both sides of the counter.
In the end, immigration officers hold more than stamps and entry cards in their hands. They hold the power to shape Curaçao’s image in the eyes of the world. Let that power be used wisely—with professionalism, warmth, and respect—so that every traveler’s first impression of Curaçao is one of welcome, not rejection.
