WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s already congested road network could face nearly 28,000 additional vehicles by 2030 if current development trends continue, placing substantially more pressure on roads during peak hours.
The warning is contained in the Tourism Carrying Capacity Study commissioned by the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) and the Ministry of Economic Development. The research was conducted by Sustainable Travel International and George Washington University.
The study identifies road congestion as one of several infrastructure problems becoming increasingly important as Curaçao’s tourism industry and accommodation capacity expand.
Researchers project almost 28,000 additional vehicles on the island by 2030, which would add substantial pressure to the road network, particularly during peak periods.
The problem is closely connected to Curaçao’s rapid tourism growth. The island received 700,242 stayover visitors in 2024, approximately 50 percent more than the 463,683 recorded in 2019. If the current trajectory continues, Curaçao could reach approximately 1.5 million stayover visitors annually by 2030.
More tourism does not simply mean additional rental cars. Expanding hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses require more employees, suppliers and services, generating additional daily movements across the island.
The study notes that Curaçao’s accommodation supply has already increased by 81 percent since 2019. At the same time, the tourism industry is becoming increasingly dependent on foreign workers as demand for labor exceeds local supply, adding further pressure on housing, roads and public services.
For residents, congestion is already one of the most visible consequences of that growth. The researchers specifically mention the airport road on a busy morning as an example of how even moderate additional demand can overwhelm particular locations.
The study also found low satisfaction among residents regarding infrastructure and service quality, with congestion among the concerns identified.
The findings suggest that Curaçao’s traffic problem can no longer be considered separately from decisions on tourism, housing and spatial development.
The report calls for stronger coordination across government and specifically identifies Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning (VVRP) as one of the ministries responsible for addressing infrastructure constraints associated with continued growth.
Without intervention, the addition of thousands more vehicles could make existing bottlenecks increasingly difficult to manage before the end of the decade.