WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) has recently published the stay-over visitors’ numbers which has seen a gradual increase. This is of course a reason for Curaçao Chronicle to sit down with the Director of the CTB, Mr. Paul Pennicook to talk about the status of one of Curaçao’s main economic pillars, the tourism. 

Analyzing the numbers since the reopening of the borders, Mr. Pennicook says that there has been a gradual trend since July when Curaçao lifted the travel restrictions and started accepting international flights again. “In July we welcomed just over 8000 stayover visitors, in August just over 9000 and in September just over 10,000. The cap was raised in October and we welcomed 13,500 stayover visitors. And then in November we fortunately welcomed 13,700. This is naturally a positive trend,” says Mr. Pennicook.

“Unfortunately, we were designated code orange by the Netherlands last week. That is going to affect our numbers initially,” says Mr. Pennicook. But he also says that not all is lost. Industry stakeholders such as Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA), Curaçao Airport Partners (CAP), Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH), together with the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) and the CTB have been holding meetings and discussions about how to best address this situation. Because it is not a situation that can be changed overnight. But Mr. Pennicook assures that everybody is working to improve the situation as quickly as possible.

“In that regard there are several things we will have to do locally because the epidemiologist Dr. Izzy Gerstenbluth has stated that our problem at the moment is the daily transmission which is what is used as a read-out by the Netherlands.  If we can get that back down to a more manageable number quickly, then I believe our chances to going back to code yellow will increase,” said Mr. Pennicook.

Optimism for 2021 and opening more markets

This code orange designation by the Netherlands will affect the holidays. Christmas is only two weeks away and nothing can be done in such a short time. But Mr. Pennicook says that he is optimistic for the new year. “I was very concerned about it when it happened, the designation to code orange. I thought this was going to affect all of 2021 but we are really hoping that working together we can do the things necessary to get the code yellow designation which will allow us to take off in 2021.” 

“Why am I cautiously optimistic? Because we at CTB have not stopped doing the things we are doing to generate business. Coming out of our discussions with the stakeholders we are aligned and have proposed that as soon as possible we need to open some additional markets with the same requirements that of the PCR test and filling out the PLC card and all that. We are of the view, that if we open other markets with these prerequisites than it can help us to get more visitors overall as well as change the mix of business such that we would not be totally dependent on a single marketsays Mr. Pennicook.

The U.S. market

In the case of the U.S. market, flights have now resumed but Curaçao is only open for four states. If Curacao was open to all 50 states of the US with the same requirements that we currently have for Dutch travelers, it would certainly help.  “The beauty of that is, once you require a test for everyone than you have the assurance that the people who are coming are safe because they have taken the test prior to boarding the plane.

Testing upon arrival

About testing at the airport upon arrival, Mr. Pennicook advices that discussion are already taking place about doing testing at the airport. “Of course, we don’t want to only offer the test locally because then we will have the question of volume. So, we should continue with the pre requirement of the PCR test. Everyone coming to Curaçao takes a test before traveling and board the plane with a negative PCR. But having testing available at the airport in case of any eventuality would be a big plus.”

“I am of the view that the necessary steps will be taken to improve the situation locally and if we open some more markets and the discussions continue towards getting testing at the airport all those things combined, will help us to have a more encouraging first quarter next year.

Competitive environment

Mr. Pennicook does recognize that Curaçao will be working in a more competitive environment in the first quarter of 2021. He says that it is pretty much an accepted fact that the first quarter is going to be soft. But this applies to all destinations, not only Curaçao. “But we need to do all things necessary to be as competitive as possible.” Mr. Pennicook advices that Curaçao will not get back to the numbers of January, February 2020 right away but the opportunity must be at least created to get our fair share of the visitors who are willing to travel.

Mr. Pennicook is confident that Curaçao remains popular among travelers. The reason for his assurance is that already CTB is getting all sorts of calls and request from people in the U.S. and other markets wanting to travel to the Island.  These people are asking questions about if they can come, where to stay and about the PCR test. So, once the island is open to all these markets the numbers will pick up

Hopeful

Mr. Pennicook believes that it will take a while before Curaçao can see pre 2020 numbers again. It is estimated that the island will get back to the 2019 numbers in 2023. But there will be an increase once the island is back to code yellow and additional markets are open.

Mr. Pennicook knows that it has been difficult and challenging, speaking to those who depend on tourism. “But we are hopeful. With everything that is happening, the world has begun to accept COVID, and it is now anticipated that COVID will be around for a while so we must do the things necessary to keep our businesses going along with COVID. In other words, when we are open to several markets with the necessary prerequisites to prevent the importation of the virus then we should have a gradual increase in our visitor arrivals. As long as we are doing those things, we are hopeful that a number of these businesses can come back sooner and we are anticipating an improved situation by about the second quarter of 2021,” says Mr. Pennicook.