VBC fears for a set back in tourism

August 11, 2008 5:20 AM

The worldwide economic development can work out negatively for Curacao. Especially the constantly increasing prices of air fare, through which the Dutch tourist will have to pay 200 euro more per person this winter season for a return Curacao from Amsterdam, won’t have a positive influence on the tourism.

The Curaçao Trade and Industry Association (VBC) anticipates this. The VBC points out the Dutch travel agents’ recent announcement that due to the fuel surcharge and the introduction of the so-called air-taks, the increase of the ticket price is inevitable and that the amount of 200 euro can be even higher for the tourists, if also the local costs in Curacao increase due to among others the more expensive energy and food-products and the higher minimum wages.

“It is self-evident that this development will not have a positive influence on tourism”, said the VBC, furthermore points out that also the Venezuelan tourist market is doubtful and doesn’t show a long-lasting image. The economy of the third big business partner of Curacao, Venezuela, showed a growth of 8.5 percent in 2007 due to the high income from oil, but the inflation was 18.7 percent, while there was also a shortage of products. “Curacao could welcome a great number of tourists from that country in 2007, mainly due to the phenomenon ATM-tourism. It’s also not clear how long the Venezuelan authorities will continue tolerating these activities.”

The VBC finds it very disturbing that the mondial barometer of the economy is set at heavy weather. “More and more countries are being confronted with energy-, food-, and financial crisis and an inflation that rises fast. Also the most important countries that the Antilles and especially Curacao is doing business with, are coping with the consequences of this development.” In VBC’s opinion, it is ‘bad news’ that the economy of the United States is coping with serious problems and that all the signs point in the direction of a recession. “The consumer confidence has dropped drastically.” Given the well-known statement that ‘if the US sneezes, the Caribbean catches a cold’, this would mean that the Caribbean is about to end up in the intensive-care.

“The countries in the region are already facing the forced restructuring of the American airline companies due to the economic circumstances. Airlift to the Caribbean is drastically reduced and this is bad news for tourism. However, also for the other sectors like real-estate, it doesn’t look good.”

(Source: National Newspaper Amigoe)

August 6, 2008