Double digit growth from North America in October 2017
WILLEMSTAD – November 27th, 2017
October Visitor Arrivals & Visitor Nights 2017 .
The Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) is reporting double digit growth in visitor arrivals from North America. The region performed well in October 2017 recording a growth of 16% compared to October 2016. The overall October performance is down by 7% despite the positive performance of the North American region. Precisely, in total 2.336 fewer visitors were registered in October 2017, bringing the total count to 31.982 visitors against 34.318 in the same month last year. The fall in arrivals is due to the fact that arrivals from Venezuela are still affecting our overall arrivals performance. A total decrease of 34% is registered in October. The difference in loss of visitors from Venezuela is fewer now compared to previous months. In October 2017 we registered 1.085 less Venezuelans, counting the total to 2.112 stayover arrivals.
Out of the region North America, we saw a double digit growth of 16%visitors in October 2017. In total 5.227 North American visitors are registered. North Americans also represent 16% of the total visitors in October this year. 4.332 US visitors are registered in October, recording 18% growth compared to last year. This growth was achieved despite the fact that the air connectivity from gateway Charlotte was closed in October. A deep dive in the US performance shows us that the gateway Miami grew by 24% in October, while we recorded 95% growth from the gateway in New York. Canada also grew by 7% in October 2017. In total Curaçao welcomed 895 Canadian visitors in October 2017.
The European region recorded a decrease of 2% in October, counting a total of 17.810 Europeans to Curaçao. Last year we welcomed 18.145 European visitors. The market share in arrivals from Europe is currently 56%. The Netherlands recorded a slightly 2% decrease in October 2017. Only 299 fewer Dutch visitors were counted in October. From Germany we recorded 9% decrease in October 2017. A total of 2.011 German visitors were welcomed this year. The loss of air connectivity from Dusseldorf is currently affecting the potential number of visitors from Germany and The Netherlands. We see that visitors living in Germany used the gateway Amsterdam to travel to Curaçao. With additional air connectivity from Amsterdam, starting November, we hope to record growth from both focus markets in Europe.
We welcomed less South Americans, a total of 5.644 stayover visitors are registered. This fall is due to the continuing drop in stayover arrivals from Venezuela, with 34% less stayover visitors compared to last year. In October we welcomed 2.112 stayover visitors from Venezuela. Arrivals from Brazil and Colombia performed well compared to last year. We registered an increase of 3% to a total of 920 stayover visitors from Brazil. From Colombia we recorded a growth of 8% in October 2017. In absolute numbers the month counted 1.184 stayover arrivals from Colombia.
Even though October registered less stayover arrivals, we registered a slight increase of 1% in visitor nights. A total of 276.799 visitor nights were counted compared to 275.392 last year. The North American region recorded 24% more visitor nights. Both USA and Canada recorded positive numbers; respectively 23% and 28% more visitor nights. Visitors from the North American region booked in total 34.478 nights in Curaçao in October 2017. From Europe a slightly 1% decrease is recorded, where from the Netherlands 3% decrease is registered. In total visitors from Holland spent 134.196 nights in Curaçao.
Year to Date: January through October 2017
A direct impact of $ 411.4 million US dollars is generated for the local economy from January through October 2017. A total direct impact of 54.1% is generated from European visitors who are responsible for $ 222.6 million US dollars. Last year Europeans were responsible for $ 215.7 million US dollars, a 3% increase. From North America an increase of 6% is calculated in terms of direct economic impact. North Americans are responsible for $ 89.4 million US dollars in the first ten months of 2017, last year they contributed with $ 84.7 million US dollars. The South American and other regions generated respectively $ 74.1 and $ 25.3 million US dollars this year. In 2016 the South American and other regions generated respectively $ 87.4 and $ 28.2 million US dollars. The total spending per visitor derives from the number of nights spent on island. Both European and North American visitors are staying longer on island; this reflects back in their contribution to the local economy.
325.141 stayover visitors were welcomed in Curaçao in the first ten months of 2017. Last year we counted 367.337 stayover visitors over the same period, a decrease of 11%. Despite the double digit negative stayover arrivals performance during the first ten months, we continue to see a slightly decrease of 2% in visitor nights spent on island. In total visitors spent 2.915.889 nights in Curaçao.
64% of the visitors nights spent are from European visitors, representing 1.864.375 nights from the region from January through October 2017. In total an increase of 3% visitor nights is registered from European visitors. From North America, the visitor nights also increased by 5%. A total of 437.381 nights are registered in the first ten months.