WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s economy remains resilient and tourism continues to be its principal engine of growth, but the island must broaden its economic base if it wants to become less vulnerable to external shocks, according to the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS).
In its September 2026 Economic Bulletin, the CBCS argues that the economic challenge has changed. After years in which recovery dominated the agenda, the priority now is sustaining growth and ensuring that economic expansion reaches a broader section of society.
CBCS President Ference Lamp said tourism will remain Curaçao’s main growth driver and that continued investment in the sector is important for employment, business activity and foreign-exchange earnings.
However, the Bank cautions against relying too heavily on one sector.
Further tourism development should therefore be accompanied by investment elsewhere in the economy, according to Lamp. Doing so could strengthen the economic benefits generated by tourism while allowing more households and businesses to participate in growth.
The CBCS also wants greater attention paid to how much of the value generated by tourism actually remains in Curaçao. Tourism Satellite Accounts can provide a clearer picture of the sector’s contribution throughout the economy, but the Bank says additional research is needed into increasing locally retained value and reducing economic “leakages.”
Beyond tourism, the CBCS specifically identifies renewable energy as an area Curaçao should continue exploring. Greater renewable-energy production could reduce the island’s dependence on imported oil and consequently reduce one of the economy’s external vulnerabilities.
The Bank also sees possible economic opportunities emerging from a gradual normalization of relations with neighboring Venezuela.
According to the Economic Bulletin, Curaçao should explore potential opportunities involving oil, bunkering and other marine-related services that could arise as relations with Venezuela normalize.
The recommendation is significant given Curaçao’s geographic location and its long economic history with Venezuela, particularly in energy and maritime activities.
The CBCS argues that a broader economic base would help the island retain more value locally, generate additional foreign exchange and make the economy better able to withstand future international disruptions.
For Sint Maarten, meanwhile, the priorities differ somewhat. The Bank identifies disaster-risk financing and climate resilience as important areas and says continued tourism growth must be accompanied by sufficient infrastructure and public services.
According to Lamp, the ultimate objective for both countries should be turning the current economic momentum into lasting improvements in productivity, competitiveness and living standards rather than assuming that today’s favorable growth will automatically continue.