WILLEMSTAD – June 11, 2026 –The Curaçao Tourist Board reports that stayover tourism maintained its positive growth trajectory in May 2026. During the month, Curaçao welcomed 65,144 stayover visitors, representing a 10% increase compared to May 2025.
Visitor profiles show that most stayover visitors traveled to Curaçao for vacation purposes (87%), followed by business-related travel (4%) and visits to friends and relatives (3%). Visitors stayed an average of 7.8 nights, reflecting meaningful time spent on the island. Extended stays continue to support broad participation across the local economy, benefiting accommodations, dining establishments, transportation providers, and tour operators.
Top Three Source Markets in May 2026
The Netherlands remained Curaçao’s largest source market in May 2026, generating 20,672 stayover arrivals, a 9% increase compared to May 2025. Dutch visitors accounted for 33% of all stayover arrivals during the month. More than half (54%) opted for non-resort accommodations, while 46% stayed at resort properties. On average, visitors from the Netherlands spent 11.3 nights on the island.
The United States ranked as the second-largest source market, contributing 18,658 stayover arrivals in May 2026, representing an 8% increase over the same month last year. American visitors accounted for 29% of total stayover arrivals. Resort hotels remained the preferred accommodation choice, with 67% of visitors selecting resort stays and 33% choosing alternative lodging options. Visitors from the United States stayed an average of 5.5 nights in Curaçao.
Colombia continued to demonstrate strong growth, with 4,523 stayover arrivals in May 2026, an increase of 14% compared to May 2025. Colombian visitors represented 7% of total stayover arrivals during the month. Resort accommodations were preferred by 63% of Colombian travelers, while the average length of stay reached 5.3 nights.
Ongoing Monitoring
Stayover arrivals continued to show solid year-over-year growth in May 2026, supported by positive results across the island’s key source markets. This positive trend was also reflected in the year-to-date performance, with stayover arrivals reaching 374,216 visitors between January and May 2026, compared to 342,554 during the same period in 2025, representing a 9% increase. Visitor nights also grew by 10% during the first five months of the year, reflecting increased tourism activity and strengthening the sector’s contribution to the local economy.
These results highlight the strength of Curaçao’s tourism sector and underscore the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to tourism development, one that supports economic growth while preserving the unique character of the island and the quality of life of its residents.
