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How the negative news from Curacao in The Netherlands is affecting tourism coming from there to the island. What happens in Curacao does not stay in Curacao. It travels to The Netherlands.
For years Curacao has been unstable with governments changing on a yearly basis. News of shootings and burglaries are almost on a daily basis. The island is dirty. The Isla refinery is fuming dirt and poison like never before. Stray dogs and cats are everywhere. Your rental car will be stolen. And the list goes on.
All this negative news has been in the Dutch papers for years on end. The Dutch do not forget!
We might have a new government. But that does not mean all is good, forgiven and forgotten now.
This weekend the entire nation of The Netherlands is going on summer break.
Traditionally Curacao would have been on the list of places to go to. But not this year it seems.
KLM has 100+ seats empty on most fights destination Curacao from Amsterdam in July and August. For TUI flights it shows a similar pattern. The Curacao hotels are empty with the exemption of a lucky view. This is what we reap after what we have been sowing for years on end.
In a way one cannot blame the Dutch. Why go to Schiphol where it is a mess. 4 hours in advance in order to make it to your 10+ hour flight? It is too much of a hassle. For what??!
Some Sun, Sea and Sand? Ibiza is closer by. Spain, France. Or with a bit of luck with the weather the beach in Scheveningen. The Germans certainly know how to find that beach in Summer.
So, the only way for the Curacao hotels to attract the Dutch tourist is either to be very cheap or spend a fortune in marketing to somewhat balance the negative publications out there about the destination.
In October we will all be crying. Mark my words. Because only then the reports come out from CTB and CHATA with the statistics over July and August. You will see a sharp decline in stayover guests from The Netherlands.
So, why keep focusing on The Netherlands? The focus needs to change. The focus first and foremost needs to be on Curacao itself. Take three million Euro/Dollars from the CTB marketing office and invest it here on the island! Fix the wild west of the unregistered apartments once and for all by going after them. Regulate and inforce the laws. Create laws if there are none. Clean up the island and make it safe.
The US is where we then need to be with our focus. It is closer by and there is more to get. Curacao is new and refreshing for the Americans. They love it here. An American spends four times more than your average tourist on their vacation. Their stay might be shorter but they are willing to spend more per day. In the US one is not confronted with the political instability and the other news as much as the Dutch are. It does not mean we do not have to fix our problems. But we start off better in the US with promoting our destination.
We need to make sure our airlift from the us remains strong and routes need to be added. The Marriott needs to re-open as soon as possible and Santa Barbara needs to become an internationally recognized brand name hotel again.
We need to train ourselves to be professional hosts. All the fantastic ingredients are already here. Not only Sun, Sea and Sand. But colorful people, colorful houses. A lot of history. A lot of culture. A lot to see, and to do. Great restaurants and fun places to go for a cocktail or two. Curacao, the most colorful Island in The Caribbean!
Remember: This is no successful Caribbean island without a strong influence from the American market.
Naam bij redactie bekend,
Curacao
@Pukkie 1-0
Bovendien vergeet de schrijver de Venezuelaanse markt die momenteel volledig tot stilstand is gekomen. Het is nu eenmaal een feit dat Amerikanen liever naar Aruba gaan. Aruba is ook gebouwd/ ingericht voor de Amerikaanse smaak/ markt. Amerikanen gaan met giga cruiseschepen naar Venetië en vragen aan de weinig overgebleven bewoners van die stad van hoe laat tot hoe laat ze open zijn. Ongelooflijk! Denken werkelijk dat deze prachtige zuid europese stad een pretpark is met openingstijden.
Pukkie,
ik denk dat je 0,2% niet correct is.
Vermoedelijk wordt bedoeld 100 empty seat per vlucht (of per week ?). In ieder geval niet 100 op 40.000.
Dear unknown hotel owner,
As a regular long-term visitor of the island, I realize your concerns.
But a few things do not cut wood in your story.
The Dutch newspapers hardly report anything about Curacao. The political situation there will be every tourist of no concern.
The messy look of some parts also has a certain charm. As long as there are no potholes in the roads.
The weather in the Netherlands has been getting better in the summer for some years. As a result, more people stay in their own country.
You call Ibiza and the Spanish coast as competitors, but forget to say that the popular all-inclusive beaches in Turkey are completely abandoned. Thanks to President Erdogan and his secret service.
Another aspect you forget about is the popularity of Air-BnB. Here, homeowners can rent their homes to anyone who wants to. A lot of use is made here.
Your concern about the remaining KLM and TUI bookings is not entirely well founded. Together, these carriers bring about 5,000 visitors a week to Curacao. You complain about 100 empty seats during July and August. During this period, theoretically, 40,000 visitors will be present. You forsee a 0.2% decrease or so.
Meanwhile, Corendon buys and builds everything on the island.
Failure of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival, is partly due to the unwillingness of stakeholders to contribute to the organization.
Your complaint about lack of attention in North America is right. But if you want to profile yourself in this fighting market, you must be able to use opportunities or unlimited amounts of money.
The beachboys sang about Aruba and therefore that name now means something in the USA.
Together with Aruba and Bonaire use these elements all the way.
ABC islands, Caribbean Kingdom, World’s best diver site. And make up some more.
In the Netherlands we have a new political party fully boycotted by the regular media on radio and television. Absolute silence. Still, they won two seats in the Lower House elections and are now virtually at six seats. Three months after the election.
Everything they do via Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Instagram. totally free. Now, this party has weekly visits in the country and it is the party with the fastest growing number of members. Keep the pressure on !
The world around you changes, change with it !
Dear unknown hotel owner,
Als regelmatig langdurig bezoeker van het eiland besef ik uw zorgen.
Maar een paar zaken snijden geen hout in uw verhaal.
De Nederlandse kranten berichten nauwelijks iets over Curacao. De politieke situatie daar zal iedere toerist een zorg zijn.
De slordige aanblik van sommige delen heeft ook een bepaalde charme. Zolang er maar geen potholes in de weg zijn.
Het weer in Nederland is al enkele jaren steeds beter in de zomer. Daardoor blijven meer mensen in eigen land.
U noemt Ibiza en de Spaanse kust als concurrenten, maar vergeet erbij te zeggen dat de populaire all-inclusive stranden van Turkije helemaal verlaten zijn. Dank zij President Erdogan en zijn geheime dienst.
Een ander aspect wat u vergeet is de populariteit van Air-BnB. Hier kunnen huiseigenaars hun huis te huur zetten voor iedereen die dat wil. Hier wordt veel gebruik van gemaakt.
Uw zorg over de achterblijvende KLM en TUI boekingen is niet helemaal gegrond. Samen brengen deze carriers zo’n 5000 bezoekers per week naar Curacao. U klaagt over 100 lege stoelen in de periode juli en augustus. In die periode komen dus theoretisch 40.000 bezoekers. U voorziet een afnamen van 0,2 % of zo.
Intussen koopt en bouwt Corendon alles wat op het eiland te koop is.
Wegvallen van Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival , is mede veroorzaakt door de onwilligheid van stakeholders om bij te dragen aan de organisatie.
Uw klacht over gebrek aan aandacht in Noord Amerika is terecht. Maar als je jezelf wilt profileren in deze vechtmarkt moet je gebruik kunnen maken van toevalligheden of van onbeperkte hoeveelheden geld.
De beachboys zongen over Aruba en daarom betekent die naam nu iets in de USA.
Maak samen met Aruba en Bonaire gebruik van de elementen die er zijn. ABC islands, Caribbean Kingdom , World’s best diver site. En verzin er nog een paar.
In Nederland was er een nieuwe politieke partij die volledig werd geboycot door de reguliere media op radio en TV. Absolute stilte. Toch wonnen ze twee zetels in de Tweede Kamer en staan nu, drie maanden na de verkiezingen, op virtueel zes zetels.
Alles doen ze via Facebook, Youtube , Twitter en Instagram. helemaal gratis. Nu, na de verkiezingen gaat deze partij nog wekelijks het land is en is de partij met het snelst groeiende aantal leden. De aanhouder wint.
De wereld om u heen verandert, verander mee !