WILLEMSTAD - CASHA "Curacao Apartments and Small Hotels Association", the interest group for business owners in tourism such as accommodations, car rental companies, diving schools, attractions and tours presents the occupancy figures for July 2021. This month, 28 of the 82 CASHA members have contributed to the monthly occupancy figures.
The average occupancy at the accommodations in July 2021 is 58%, In July there were 3 accommodations with an occupancy above 90%. The highest occupancy rate was for a resort in Banda Abou with 94%.
The 2nd accommodation is in the middle of the city by the ocean with an average occupancy of 93% and the 3rd accommodation, a B&B at Jan Thiel, achieved 92.5%.
10 accommodations scored between 50 and 90%, of which 6 were above 75% and 7 accommodations between 10 and 50%, 2 of which are below 25%. Unfortunately, one property has not received any guests this month.
In July, many people enjoyed a holiday that had already been booked and paid for, the so-called rebookers. The same is about to happen in August and September. Many accommodations still have bookings that still need to be completed this year, some guests have already rebooked 3x.
The outlook for August looks promising, although it should be noted that once travel restrictions change, accommodations will see this in their bookings and cancellations. A lot of last minute bookings are made, booking one day before arrival is no exception.
Dive schools average 41.4% of normally performed dives.
Most tours are running again, tourists know how to find them again, on average 63% of the tours are operated.
The car rental company indicates that it rents out 70% of the capacity on average. Many cars are rented to young people. A car rental company indicates that it now has fewer cars to rent out, it has sold cars, his car rental has been halved.
Despite the hopeful July occupancy rate, entrepreneurs are concerned, many of them have desperately needed and still need government support in recent times.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), the May NOW scheme will be paid in instalments, after which it will stop as stated.
The TWZO scheme for sole traders was discontinued in June, it was dependent on the next liquidity tranche from the Netherlands.
Sole proprietors have no longer received an invitation to apply for support from Fondo di Sosten.
The TVL scheme for the 2nd quarter has been submitted by the companies but will probably not be paid out.
The business owners are waiting for the necessary approval from the Minister of Finance.
According to the IMF, tourism in Curaçao is not expected to return to pre-covid level until 2024, until then, it's a matter of muddling through and the question is how many companies will make it to that date.
CASHA finds it unbelievable that in the sector that has suffered the most blows, support is being stopped.
