Curaçao records 18% increase in stayover visitors in September
Key Points(5)
- Curaçao welcomed 63,565 stayover visitors in September 2026, an 18% increase compared with the same month last year, as arrivals grew across its major source markets, according to the Curaçao Tourist Board.
- The island recorded 53,672 stayover visitors in September 2025.
- This year’s arrivals generated 510,824 visitor nights, up 14% year over year, while the average length of stay declined slightly to eight nights from 8.3 nights.
- Visitor growth was recorded across all major regions, with arrivals from the Caribbean increasing by 37%, South America by 28%, North America by 23% and Europe by 8%.
- Resort hotels accommodated 55% of stayover visitors, while the remaining 45% chose alternative accommodations.
Curaçao welcomed 63,565 stayover visitors in September 2026, an 18% increase compared with the same month last year, as arrivals grew across its major source markets, according to the Curaçao Tourist Board.
The island recorded 53,672 stayover visitors in September 2025. This year’s arrivals generated 510,824 visitor nights, up 14% year over year, while the average length of stay declined slightly to eight nights from 8.3 nights.
Visitor growth was recorded across all major regions, with arrivals from the Caribbean increasing by 37%, South America by 28%, North America by 23% and Europe by 8%.
Resort hotels accommodated 55% of stayover visitors, while the remaining 45% chose alternative accommodations.
Cruise tourism also recorded significant growth. Curaçao received 57,621 cruise passengers across 17 ship calls in September, compared with 32,372 passengers across nine calls in September 2025.
Netherlands, US and Colombia lead source markets
The Netherlands remained Curaçao’s largest source market in September, accounting for 18,740 stayover arrivals, or 29% of the total. Arrivals from the country increased by 6% year over year.
Dutch visitors stayed an average of 11.8 nights, the longest among the island’s major source markets. Of those visitors, 56% selected alternative accommodations and 44% stayed at resort hotels. According to the tourist board’s 2025 exit survey, Dutch visitors spent an average of $206 per person per day.
The United States ranked second, with 15,876 stayover visitors, up 20% from September 2025. U.S. visitors stayed an average of 5.8 nights, with 68% choosing resort hotels and 32% staying in alternative accommodations.
U.S. visitors were the highest daily spenders among Curaçao’s key markets, averaging $407 per person per day, according to the tourist board.
Colombia ranked third with 4,737 stayover arrivals, a 25% increase from a year earlier. Colombian visitors stayed an average of 5.4 nights, compared with five nights in September 2025. Resort hotels accommodated 63% of Colombian visitors, while 37% chose alternative accommodations. Their average daily spending was $275 per person.
Arrivals up 11% through September
From January through September 2026, Curaçao welcomed 642,379 stayover visitors, an 11% increase from the 581,144 recorded during the same period last year. Those visitors generated approximately 5.3 million visitor nights, up 10% year over year.
The Netherlands remained the leading source market, contributing 196,350 arrivals, or 31% of the total. The United States followed with 169,714 visitors, accounting for 26%.
Colombia ranked third with 44,072 arrivals, representing 7% of the total, followed by Canada with 36,676 visitors (6%), Brazil with 33,403 (5%) and Argentina with 30,358 (5%).
Cruise arrivals also increased, reaching 648,450 passengers during the first nine months of the year, up 10% compared with the same period in 2025.
The Curaçao Tourist Board said the island had recorded year-over-year growth in every month of 2026, positioning the destination for a strong finish to the year.
