WILLEMSTAD – Movimentu Save Zakitó is calling for a temporary moratorium on new hotels, resorts, residential towers and other large-scale construction projects until Curaçao determines how much additional tourism and development the island can sustainably accommodate.
The activist group argues that tourism and construction are expanding faster than Curaçao’s infrastructure and public services can handle. It points to increasing pressure on roads, electricity and water supply, waste management and the housing market as reasons to reassess the current pace of development.
Save Zakitó says the government should first establish clear limits for tourism and spatial development before approving additional large projects.
The group is also citing recently published research on Curaçao’s tourism carrying capacity. According to the study, an estimated 58 percent of tourism expenditure leaks out of the Curaçao economy through factors including foreign ownership, imports and external supply chains.
For Save Zakitó, the figure raises questions about how much of Curaçao’s rapidly expanding tourism industry ultimately benefits residents.
The movement argues that tourism policy should therefore focus less exclusively on increasing visitor arrivals and hotel-room capacity and more on the economic value retained on the island.
Infrastructure under pressure
The call for a moratorium comes amid wider discussion about whether Curaçao’s infrastructure can keep pace with the island’s tourism and economic expansion.
Save Zakitó says major projects should be evaluated not only on their projected investment and economic activity, but also on their effects on traffic, utilities, waste processing, housing availability, the environment and surrounding communities.
The organization maintains that continued development without first measuring these pressures could eventually undermine the quality of life of residents and the quality of Curaçao itself as a tourism destination.
The group says it is not opposed to tourism or economic development. Instead, it wants future growth to take place within clearly established limits and with greater consideration for the benefits received by the local population.
Protecting Curaçao's heritage
Save Zakitó is also seeking stronger protection for historic and culturally significant areas as development spreads across the island.
The movement fears that large-scale construction could permanently alter areas that form part of Curaçao’s cultural identity.
It proposes mandatory heritage impact assessments for major developments affecting historic areas. Such assessments would examine the potential consequences of a project for cultural and historic assets before construction is authorized.
Save Zakitó additionally wants the government to establish a publicly accessible register for major construction projects. The database would allow residents to review building permits, approved modifications, inspection information and environmental obligations associated with developments.
According to the movement, greater transparency would allow the public to better understand what has been approved and whether projects are subsequently being built according to those approvals.
The proposed moratorium would be temporary, giving Curaçao time to determine the island’s tourism and development carrying capacity and establish clearer rules for future growth.
For Save Zakitó, the central question is no longer simply how much Curaçao can build or how many additional tourists it can attract, but how much development the island can absorb without creating unacceptable economic, environmental and social consequences.