WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao should temporarily hold back major new tourism projects until it is clear that the island can provide the additional electricity, water, sewage capacity, roads and other infrastructure needed to support rapid growth, according to tourism industry organization CASHA.
The organization is asking the government to first publish the Destination Carrying Capacity Study and explain how the infrastructure required for additional tourism development will be delivered.
CASHA argues that tourism capacity should not expand faster than Curaçao’s essential services can accommodate.
The organization wants the government to determine, sector by sector, how much additional capacity will be required, what the investments will cost, when the infrastructure will become available and which government entity will be responsible for delivering it.
CASHA also wants independent confirmation that additional capacity for electricity, drinking water, wastewater treatment, mobility and the airport can actually be delivered within the necessary timeframe.
The concern comes as Curaçao experiences substantial growth in hotel and accommodation capacity. CASHA says figures presented to Parliament indicate an increase from 9,689 rooms in 2024 to an average of 14,627 in 2027, an expansion of approximately 51 percent.
For CASHA, approving developments without ensuring that essential infrastructure expands at the same pace could place additional pressure on systems already serving residents and existing businesses.
The organization is therefore proposing that major projects be temporarily held until the carrying-capacity study is available and the government has established how the necessary infrastructure will be financed and implemented.
CASHA's position goes beyond utilities. The organization says tourism planning should also account for Curaçao’s housing market, workforce availability, roads and parking, waste management, internet infrastructure, safety, beaches, natural areas and water quality.
The Destination Carrying Capacity Study was initiated, according to CASHA, by the Curaçao Tourist Board and the Ministry of Economic Development in cooperation with Sustainable Travel International and George Washington University.
CASHA wants its findings to become more than an advisory report. It is calling for the results to serve as a formal assessment framework when authorities consider new hotels, expansions and other major tourism projects.
The organization submitted its recommendations to the Curaçao Parliament following questions raised during discussions on the future direction of the tourism sector.