Minister van Heydoorn
Fresh off a productive and insightful meeting with Minister Sithree van Heydoorn, Minister of Education, Science, Culture & Sport, and his team. We were invigorated by our discussions on the crucial role of education in the Hospitality sector and the immense potential for further collaboration. We are thrilled about our ongoing partnership with the Minister and his team and are excited to deepen our cooperation. Together, we aim to motivate more students to pursue and complete their education in hospitality. CHATA members are actively discussing and contributing to incentive programs, and CHATA is already in close collaboration with programs such as the UoC Hospitality Program and ROC Mondriaan. By uniting our efforts, we are confident in our ability to significantly enhance this vital economic sector. fltr: Cindi Do Rego (Senior Advisor), Mimi Luttge (Chair CHATA), Min. van Heydoorn, Anuschka Cova (CEO CHATA), Jaime Osma (BM CHATA)
Minister Cijntje
We recently had a highly productive meeting with Minister of Economic Development, Minister Ruisandro Cijntje, to discuss the growth of our tourism sector and strategies for balanced development, with a focus on maintaining the quality of our product, the island of Curaçao. A key point of discussion was the need for over 2,000 additional personnel to support the expansion of more than 4,000 new rooms being added by accommodations. This significant investment underscores the trust in our island and the future of the tourism sector. However, we emphasized the need for government support to facilitate permits and improve infrastructure. We also highlighted the excellent cooperation between CHATA, CTB (Curaçao Tourist Board), and the government in various areas, stressing the importance of continuing this collaboration to ensure the sustained growth and success of our tourism industry.
Minister Silvania
We also met with Minister of Finance, Minister Javier Silvania, to discuss several key initiatives and updates within the hospitality sector. This meeting provided an opportunity to introduce various task forces that CHATA has established and is actively working on, including the HR Task Force, Diving Task Force, and addressing pertinent health issues. One of the major topics of discussion was the level playing field for apartments. We are part of the committee created by the Ministry of Finance to address this issue. We emphasized the importance of the location of certain apartments for CHATA and our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of these locations for our members. Minister Silvania expressed his support for our initiatives and offered assistance wherever possible to help us achieve our goals. This collaborative approach is essential for the continued growth and improvement of the hospitality sector.
Minister Pisas
We had an insightful meeting with Minister President, Minister Pik Pisas, focusing on the ongoing developments and future potential of the hospitality sector. This session served as an update on the sector’s current projects and strategic initiatives. A significant part of the discussion centered around the possibility of matching certain projects with investments from hotels. CHATA committed to exploring these opportunities further. We also reiterated the critical importance of education and incentivizing students to pursue careers in the hospitality industry, a point previously discussed with the Minister of Education. Moreover, the facilitation of work permits was highlighted as a crucial factor in supporting the sector’s growth. The meeting underscored the need for continuous collaboration between CHATA, the government, and educational institutions to ensure a robust and sustainable future for the hospitality industry.
