Americans Travel To This Caribbean Destination In Record Numbers, And It’s Not Cancun!

A combination of unrelated factors has propelled the stunning Caribbean island of Curaçao onto the radar of American travelers since summer 2022—and the trend shows no signs of slowing down.

In August, the Dutch island reported a 24 percent increase in U.S. visitors, welcoming 14,703 arrivals—the highest growth of any segment for Curaçao, according to data from the local Tourist Board. 

By October, the island recorded 12,544 arrivals from the United States, marking a 20 percent rise compared to the 10,483 who visited during the same period the previous year.

To summarize, Curacao recorded 53,234 overnight visitors last month, reflecting an 11% increase in arrivals across different nationalities.

The Curaçao Tourist Board also reported a noticeable uptick in families with children, who prefer to enjoy the island over the weekend.

This pattern might explain why 74% of American tourists are opting for all-inclusive resorts as their preferred type of accommodation.

“Most American visitors (74%) preferred resort hotels, while 26% opted for other types of accommodations. On average, visitors from the USA stayed for 5.8 nights, with most travelers coming from New York, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and Georgia.”

The Netherlands, Curaçao’s mainland, remains its second-most important source market. Last month, 20,114 Dutch nationals flew to the island, a 16% increase compared to 17,395 arrivals recorded in the same month in 2023.

Once again, Colombia emerges as one of the fastest-growing markets for Caribbean islands, with an 11% rise in visitors compared to October 2023, totaling 3,914 arrivals last month.

“So far Curaçao welcomed 566,827 stayover arrivals, 23,730 day-trippers and 627,395 cruise passengers, welcoming a total of 1,217,952 arrivals from January through October 2024, a 23% increase compared to the same period last year,“ said the Tourism Board.

This rather positive trend stems from the collaborations between the Board of Tourism, the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association, and local authorities, who have anticipated a strong Christmas season and an equally outstanding 2025.

“Curaçao’s tourism industry shows solid stability in 2024, with the strategic effort to stay consistent in creating awareness in its main markets of focus. This growth highlights the island’s success in creating demand by showing its offerings to come “Feel it for yourself”,” reads the latest Curacao Tourist Board press release.

So, What’s Driving Americans’ Growing Interest in Visiting Curaçao?

Known for its rich history, mixed European and Caribbean culture, colorful colonial architecture, turquoise waters, and laid-back atmosphere, this island has long been a traveler’s haven—nothing new there so far.

However, as we’ve mentioned, several factors are driving the surge in visiting numbers. These include the development of multiple well-known American resort brands, minimal arrivals of sargassum, and a lack of destructive hurricanes.

In the past two years, Curaçao has attracted major resort brands traditionally popular with American tourists, further solidifying its appeal as a top Caribbean getaway. Notable openings include Sandals Royal Curaçao (June 2022), Courtyard by Marriott Curaçao (June 2024), The Rif at Mangrove Beach Corendon Curaçao All-Inclusive, Curio by Hilton (2024), and an adults-only section at Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino (2024).

Another key factor is that in 2024, Curaçao experienced minimal impact from sargassum, a seaweed that has severely affected other Caribbean hotspots like the Mexican Caribbean. While beachgoers could spot some accumulation of seaweed on the north coast, popular southern beaches remained largely clean and inviting.

Last but not least, Curaçao’s location outside the primary hurricane belt significantly reduced the risk of direct hurricane impacts, giving it an advantage over many Caribbean competitors that suffered the arrival of devastating hurricanes this year.

Featured Image Source: Source: Sandals Royal Curacao