WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s economy is projected to grow by 2.7 percent in 2026, while inflation is expected to reach 2.4 percent as tourism continues to support economic activity despite growing international uncertainty.
The projections are included in the government’s second-quarter 2026 implementation report and are based on the latest multi-year projections from the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS).
According to the report, tensions in the Middle East have pushed up global oil prices and transportation costs, increasing inflation expectations and putting pressure on international economic growth.
Curaçao is also experiencing the effects of these developments, although with a delay. The government says the impact on economic growth has so far been less severe than initially expected because Curaçao is benefiting from tourists shifting toward Caribbean destinations.
Inflation expectations have nevertheless been revised slightly upward because of higher oil and transportation costs. Price developments during the first quarter, however, indicated that inflationary pressure remained more moderate than previously anticipated.
The government warns that the outlook remains vulnerable to external developments. Among the main risks are U.S. trade policy, geopolitical tensions and economic policy developments among Curaçao’s most important trading partners, particularly the Netherlands and the United States.
The strength of the economy is already visible in government revenues. Tax collections during the first half of 2026 were approximately XCG 98 million higher than during the same period last year.
The government attributes part of that increase to tourism-driven economic activity, along with higher prices and improved tax compliance.
The figures suggest that tourism is currently helping cushion Curaçao from some of the effects of weaker international conditions, but the government stresses that the economic outlook remains susceptible to rapid changes in the global environment.