Curacao Tourism Is Surging

By: - May 11th, 2015

Above: the Santa Barbara resort in Curacao (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Dutch Caribbean’s tourism sector is surging.

Curacao received 122,074 visitors in the first quarter of 2015, a 13 percent increase compared to the same period in 2014.

That was a major shift compared to 2015, when the island reported a modest 2.5 percent increase in tourism.

The improvement was likely driven in large part by new JetBlue service between New York’s John F Kennedy Airport and Curacao that launched late last year.

willemstad

Additionally, the Dutch Caribbean island has seen new flights out of Canada, with more service set to launch this summer on Air Canada out of Toronto.

Last year, Curacao welcome a total of 450,953 stayover visitors.

Curacao’s growth comes as its Dutch Caribbean neighbour, Aruba, reported a whopping 20.2 percent increase in arrivals in the first quarter.

Only Aruba and Cuba had higher rates of increase in the first quarter among destinations with complete reporting, according to data from the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

News

High Winds Affecting LIAT Flights

Above: St Vincent (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff Prevailing seasonal high winds are continuing to affect some flights by regional air carrier LIAT. Flights in Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines are among those particularly affected. In a statement, the carrier said teh conditions were likely to continue through until mid-June. “Customers […]

News

Petit St Vincent Joins National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon CJ Travel Editor The Grenadines’ private resort island of Petit St. Vincent announced today that it has joined National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a collection of boutique hotels which have a demonstrated commitment to sustainability, authenticity and excellence. The 115-acre luxury Caribbean resort is the 25th member of the newly […]

News

Royal Caribbean Orders Fourth Quantum-Class Cruise Ship

Above; Quantum of the Seas By the Caribbean Journal staff Royal Caribbean is adding another new megaship. The company announced that it had entered into an agreement with Germany’s Meyer Werft to order a fourth Quantum-class ship. The cruise ship is slated for delivery in 2019. “We have received a remarkable response from travel agent […]

A New All-Inclusive Resort is Coming to Grand Bahama

 Above: the Grand Lucayan resort By the Caribbean Journal staff Grand Bahama is getting a new all-inclusive resort. It’s called Lighthouse Point at Grand Lucayan, and it’s a resort to be located within the Grand Lucayan resort. The property is opening later this year after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The 198-unit enclave, slated for a “late […]

American Airlines: 8.1 Percent Decline in Latin America, Caribbean

 Above: an American Airlines plane By the Caribbean Journal staff American Airlines Group is reporting an 8.1 percent decline in revenue passenger miles for the Latin America and Caribbean region for April, according to a new company statement. The company reported just under 3.23 billion revenue passengers in the region last month, down from 3.51 […]

Grenada Opening Miami Consulate

 Above: the Grand Lucayan resort By the Caribbean Journal staff Grand Bahama is getting a new all-inclusive resort. It’s called Lighthouse Point at Grand Lucayan, and it’s a resort to be located within the Grand Lucayan resort. The property is opening later this year after a multimillion-dollar renovation. The 198-unit enclave, slated for a “late […]

British Virgin Islands Announces Date for General Elections

 Above: Road Town (CJ Photo) By the Caribbean Journal staff The British Virgin Islands has set the date for its upcoming general election. Acting Governor V Inez Archibald announced this week that the British Overseas Territory would hold its vote on June 8. The move comes after the territory’s House of Assembly was dissolved on […]