WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) says Curaçao’s tourism sector closed the 2025-2026 winter high season with another strong performance, as stayover arrivals increased by 10 percent in April compared to the same month last year.
According to newly released figures from CTB, the island welcomed 75,332 stayover visitors during April 2026, continuing the strong momentum that has characterized Curaçao’s tourism recovery and expansion over the past several years.
The latest figures confirm that Curaçao continues benefiting from solid demand across multiple international source markets, particularly from Europe and North America.
Tourism officials noted that the majority of visitors traveled to Curaçao primarily for vacation purposes. Approximately 90 percent of stayover visitors indicated leisure travel as the main reason for their visit, while smaller groups visited friends and relatives or traveled for business purposes.
Visitors stayed an average of 7.9 nights on the island, a figure tourism authorities consider highly valuable because longer stays generate broader economic impact throughout the local economy.
According to CTB, extended visitor stays continue benefiting hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, excursion companies, retailers, and other tourism-dependent businesses across Curaçao.
Dutch Market Remains Curaçao’s Largest Tourism Source
The Netherlands once again remained Curaçao’s largest tourism market during April.
The island received 24,620 stayover visitors from the Netherlands, representing an 11 percent increase compared to April 2025.
Dutch visitors accounted for approximately one-third of all stayover arrivals during the month.
The figures also show changing accommodation preferences among Dutch travelers. According to CTB, 55 percent of Dutch visitors stayed in non-resort accommodations such as apartments, vacation rentals, or smaller lodging facilities, while 45 percent selected resort hotels.
Dutch tourists also remained among the longest-staying visitors, averaging 11.4 nights on the island.
Tourism experts have increasingly identified this long-stay European market as particularly important for Curaçao because of its strong contribution to local spending patterns and broader participation throughout the economy.
United States Continues Rapid Growth
The United States remained Curaçao’s second-largest tourism market and one of its fastest-growing segments.
In April alone, Curaçao welcomed 20,491 visitors from the United States, representing a significant 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
American visitors accounted for 27 percent of total stayover arrivals during the month.
Unlike the Dutch market, most American tourists continued showing a strong preference for resort accommodations. According to the tourism board, 68 percent of U.S. visitors stayed at resorts, while 32 percent selected alternative lodging options.
American visitors stayed an average of 5.5 nights.
The continued growth of the U.S. market reflects Curaçao’s increasing visibility in North America, supported by expanded airlift, aggressive marketing campaigns, and growing interest in Caribbean destinations outside the traditional tourism hotspots.
Tourism Sector Balancing Growth and Sustainability
CTB emphasized that maintaining balanced tourism growth remains essential for Curaçao moving forward.
Officials stated that the island must continue expanding economic opportunities generated by tourism while simultaneously preserving Curaçao’s lifestyle, culture, and overall visitor experience.
The tourism board noted that sustained demand from key international markets reinforces the importance of long-term strategic planning focused on visitor satisfaction, sustainability, and community well-being.
April traditionally marks the end of Curaçao’s winter high season, making the strong figures particularly important as the island enters the slower summer tourism period.
The results also come amid broader Caribbean tourism growth, although regional analysts have recently warned that competition between Caribbean destinations is intensifying as global travel patterns continue evolving.