WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao has exceeded its carrying capacity for the number of visitors it can receive under current environmental conditions, according to the report State of Curaçao’s Coral Reefs 1973–2045.
The report warns that Curaçao’s ambition to remain a paradise above and below the surface is becoming harder to reconcile with the rapid decline of its coral reefs. The island’s tourism sector depends heavily on clean coastal waters, healthy reefs, attractive beaches and underwater experiences, but many of the pressures affecting the reefs are linked to local development and the growing number of visitors.
Tourism has increased dramatically over the past five decades. The report notes that stayover tourism grew from about 100,000 visitors in 1970 to around 800,000 in 2024. At the same time, Curaçao’s population remained relatively stable, meaning that the pressure on infrastructure, coastal areas and wastewater systems has increasingly come from a combination of local use and tourism growth.
The report estimates that reef-related tourism contributes approximately 373 million US dollars per year to Curaçao, representing 38 percent of total visitor spending. This figure does not include indirect benefits such as coastal protection and sand production, meaning the true economic value of the reefs is likely higher.
However, the same reefs that support tourism are under pressure from pollution, overfishing, coral disease, climate change and coastal development. The report warns that under a business-as-usual scenario, the future of Curaçao’s reefs and the income they generate will remain uncertain.
Tourists are also noticing the decline. According to the report, public online sentiment has shifted over the past two decades from carefree admiration of Curaçao’s reefs to more concerned comments about bleaching, coral disease, wastewater treatment and the need for better coastal management.
The report also states that climate change can affect tourism directly. Studies cited in the report show that many visitors would not return to Caribbean islands if the visible effects of climate change, such as coral bleaching, disappearing beaches, sea-level rise and disease risks, became more apparent.
For Curaçao, the warning is clear. Tourism growth cannot be separated from environmental management. If the island continues to promote its underwater world as a key attraction, protecting the reefs must become part of the tourism strategy itself.
The report suggests that safeguarding the remaining healthy reefs, improving water quality and reducing local pressures are essential if Curaçao wants to preserve both its marine environment and one of the strongest pillars of its economy.