WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao is suffering from a significant decline in tourism due to high ticket prices, according to the Curaçao Association of Hospitality and Tourism Accommodations, CASHA. 

Last month, the occupancy rate was 64 percent. The previous month, Casha reached a peak of 86 percent occupancy. These declines occurred across the board, including accommodations, car rentals, attractions, and dive centers. 

The guests who booked apartments through Casha mainly came from Brazil and Canada, two growing markets that somewhat compensated for the lack of European guests. 

In terms of car rentals, two CASHA members reported an occupancy rate just slightly above fifty percent, a decrease of nearly ten percent compared to April and a significantly larger drop compared to last year's 75 percent. 

The occupancy rates for attractions were similar to car rentals at fifty percent, a twenty percent decrease from the previous month. 

Dive centers experienced a similar decline, with an occupancy rate of 56 percent, 24 percent lower than the previous month. 

These declines have sparked discussions and action plans to improve tourism in Curaçao. The issues discussed in the Curaçao Tourism Board CTB meeting included traffic situations, which some visitors consider dangerous, and thefts at dive sites. Measures have been taken to address these problems.