…First two months of 2018…
WILLEMSTAD – March 27th, 2018 – A direct impact of $ 99.2 million US dollars is generated for the local economy in the first two months of 2018. Last year, the same period generated $ 97.7 million US dollars. This is a 2% increase of the direct impact to the local economy. 52% of the total direct impact is generated from European visitors who are responsible for $ 51.3 million US dollars. The North American, South American and other regions generated respectively $ 29.3, $ 14.2 and $ 4.3 million US dollars.
74,180 stayover visitors were welcomed in Curaçao in the first two months of 2018. Last year we counted 74,650 stayover visitors over the same period, a slightly decrease of 1%. Four out of the seven focus markets performed well in the first two months. The Netherlands, United States of America, Colombia and Brazil grew respectively with 11%, 13%, 37% and 3%. In absolute numbers the four countries contribute with a total of 49,570 stayover visitors, which is 67% of the total visitors welcomed in the first two months of the year. A slight decrease of 1% in visitor nights is registered during the first two months of 2018. In total visitors spent 677,628 nights in Curaçao. 64% of the visitors nights spent are from European visitors, representing 430,884 nights from the region. In total an increase of 1% visitor nights is registered from European visitors. From North America, the visitor nights increased by 15%. In total of 142,717 nights are registered in the first two months.
February Visitor Arrivals 2018
In February, Curaçao welcomed a total of 14,791 stayover visitors from the Netherlands, an increase of 8% compared to February 2017. The Netherlands continues to be the leading country where 43% of our share from stayover arrivals is originating. The second main country in Europe is Germany. Last year counting two direct flights from Dusseldorf we registered 1,903 stayover arrivals. This year with no direct service from Germany we registered 1,106 German visitors, a 42% decrease in stayover arrivals. Overall the European region grew by 3% in February 2018. A total of 18,556 stayover visitors are recorded.
CTB registered a total of 9,260 stayover visitors from North America in February 2018, ranking North America the second biggest contributor in visitor arrivals. Curaçao welcomed a total of 3,119 stayover visitors from Canada, recording a 4% decrease. This 4% represents 121 less visitors in February 2018. On the contrary from the United States of America an increase of 14% is registered in February 2018. In total 6,141 stayover visitors are registered. Last year we recorded 5,401 stayover arrivals from USA.
In February we welcomed less South Americans, a total of 4,014 stayover visitors are registered. This fall is due to the continuing drop in stayover arrivals from Venezuela, with 84% less stayover visitors compared to last year. The border closure as of January 5th 2018 is hurting the overall stayover arrivals of February. Only 426 Venezuelans found their way to Curaçao, where last year 2,742 was registered.
Colombia performed very well compared to last year. We registered an increase of 78% to a total of 1,185 stayover visitors from Colombia. Brazil also performed well recording 5% growth in February 2018. In total 1,087 Brazilians were welcomed in February.
