Richard Arends (Directorate Physical Development and Planning/Economic Affairs), Dino Daal (Tourism expert for Curacao/Co-author of 'The strategic Tourism Destination Development plan'), Elmelynn Croes (Central Bank of Aruba), Candice Henriquez (Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten), Henk van de Velden (Central Bureau of Statistics Dutch Caribbean), Leo Rigaud (President of the Association of Dutch Caribbean Economists), Rob van den Bergh (Board member of the Association of Dutch Caribbean Economists) 

WILLEMSTAD - During the recently held symposium on the dependency of the ABC Islands on tourism, organized by the Association of Dutch Caribbean Economists (ADCE) on April 12, it became clear that proportional development of facilities is essential for sustainable tourism. Experts emphasized that, while tourism remains the primary economic sector, the recent growth on islands like Bonaire and Curaçao has led to pressure on nature, culture, and local communities. Unlike Aruba, where overtourism poses a risk, Bonaire aims for moderate growth to preserve its unique character. 

The meeting also discussed challenges in the tourism sector, including the need for improved infrastructure and human resources. Additionally, it was noted that local labor forces are not benefiting sufficiently from tourist growth, leading to increasing reliance on foreign workers. This impacts the demographics of the islands. 

The core conclusion of the symposium is that more tourism, without proportional expansion of facilities, is not socio-economically sustainable. For sustainable tourism development, it is crucial for the government to focus on and invest in infrastructure, environment, and community facilities in a way that also benefits the local population and does not exclude them. 

Plans 

The symposium called for accelerated implementation of development plans and emphasized the importance of local involvement and preserving the unique character of each island to ensure socio-economic sustainability. Participants gained in-depth insights into the current and future state of tourism in the ABC Islands through comprehensive data and measurement methods.