WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s expanding hotel industry is creating new economic opportunities, but the rapid addition of accommodation also requires urgent investment in wastewater treatment, infrastructure, environmental protection and workforce planning, according to the Curaçao Hospitality & Tourism Association (CHATA).
CHATA raised the issue during Tuesday’s Tourism Press Conference as part of a broader presentation on sustainable tourism and the island’s carrying capacity.
The hospitality organization described the current expansion of Curaçao’s accommodation sector as a “historic pipeline,” but warned that the scale and speed of development require an equally urgent response in wastewater infrastructure and workforce planning.
According to CHATA, several new resort developments are incorporating closed-loop wastewater systems that treat wastewater on the property before it is discharged or reused.
New hotels in the Willemstad corridor are required to connect to the centralized Utilities wastewater network, while some properties are separating greywater for reuse in landscaping. Such systems reduce both freshwater consumption and the amount of wastewater that must be discharged.
The issue is directly connected to the health of Curaçao's coral reefs.
CHATA said reefs are a fundamental part of the island’s tourism economy because they support diving, snorkeling and Curaçao’s broader blue-economy appeal. According to the presentation, wastewater mismanagement and nutrient runoff represent primary threats to these ecosystems and, consequently, to tourism’s long-term viability.
The presentation outlined quarterly reef and coastal assessments coordinated between CARMABI, STINAPA and hotel partners. It also referred to expanded mooring-buoy networks at important dive sites to prevent anchor damage and hotel-led coastal cleanups and efforts to phase out single-use plastics.
CHATA said the hospitality sector has already taken several steps to reduce its environmental footprint.
Leading hotel groups have introduced waste separation in kitchens and operational areas, diverting waste from the Malpais landfill. Food-waste initiatives involving better buffet management, portion control and composting pilots have reduced food waste by an estimated 20 to 30 percent per occupied room night, according to the presentation.
CHATA also said renovation and construction projects increasingly include waste-management plans aimed at preventing uncontrolled dumping of demolition material, particularly in coastal areas.
Energy consumption is another area receiving attention.
Multiple resorts have installed rooftop solar systems, which CHATA says have reduced individual properties’ dependence on the electricity grid by between 15 and 40 percent. Sandals Royal Curaçao, Papagayo Beach Hotel and Kontiki were among properties mentioned in connection with renewable-energy investments, while battery-storage pilots are also underway.
Hotels have additionally introduced LED lighting, smarter air-conditioning systems, solar water heating and energy audits. CHATA said the sector should begin publicly quantifying the results, including electricity saved and carbon emissions avoided, to improve transparency and strengthen the case for supportive government policies.
A preliminary 2025 survey of 26 CHATA member properties suggests sustainability practices are already relatively widespread.
Twenty of the 26 properties reported having a sustainability strategy, while 23 tracked sustainability indicators. Thirteen had installed solar energy, 17 had wastewater-management practices and 19 operated recycling programs.
Sixteen said at least half of their sourcing was local, 18 reported climate-resilience measures and 19 supported community volunteering.
However, CHATA's presentation makes clear that individual hotel initiatives alone will not resolve the pressures created by tourism growth.
The association defines carrying capacity across four areas: physical and environmental conditions, including reef health, beach crowding and wastewater limits; economic factors such as wages, local purchasing and economic leakage; social factors including residents’ well-being and cultural integrity; and infrastructure including roads, water supply and waste facilities.
CHATA said it is working with the Curaçao Tourist Board, Curaçao Airport Partners, Curaçao Ports Authority and Curaçao Airport Holding to continuously monitor tourism performance and emerging pressures while maintaining dialogue with the government on permits, infrastructure, workforce issues and sustainability policy.
The organization wants sustainability plans for wastewater, energy and waste management to become conditions for new accommodation permits. It also recommends creating a quarterly carrying-capacity dashboard to track whether Curaçao’s environment, economy and infrastructure are keeping pace with tourism expansion.
CHATA’s central argument is that Curaçao does not have to choose between tourism growth and sustainability. Instead, the industry says protecting the resources and infrastructure on which tourism depends is necessary if the current growth is to remain economically viable over the long term.