Curaçao's Coral Cover Has Plummeted from 50% to Just 5%

Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) recognized ten visitors as official Bonaire Ambassadors during August as part of its ongoing Ambassador Recognition Month. The honorees were selected through the 'Bonaire Ambassador Program,' a long-running initiative that celebrates loyal and enthusiastic visitors to the island. The program was first introduced in 2001 and has been warmly received by guests throughout its nearly 25-year history. The recognition is designed to reward visitors who show exceptional dedication to and love for Bonaire, encouraging continued tourism engagement. The program reflects TCB's broader strategy of building personal connections between the island and its most devoted visitors. By designating returning guests as ambassadors, Bonaire aims to foster word-of-mouth promotion and long-term loyalty among its tourist base.

A new online tool called the 'Cruise Calendar,' developed by Curaçao Escape, allows residents and visitors to see exactly when cruise ships are scheduled to dock in Willemstad and how many tourists each vessel will bring. The tool is designed to give a day-by-day forecast of how busy the city's downtown area is expected to be. By making cruise arrival data publicly accessible, the calendar helps locals plan around peak tourist traffic and helps visitors decide the best time to explore the city. Willemstad's historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a primary destination for cruise passengers and can become heavily congested on high-traffic days. The tool represents a practical step toward smarter tourism management on the island, giving both businesses and residents better visibility into fluctuating visitor volumes.

Curaçao's Hato International Airport is expanding its border control technology with the introduction of e-gates and an Express Pass system, aimed at speeding up passenger processing and reducing wait times. The e-gates allow eligible travelers to pass through immigration using automated document scanning, while the Express Pass offers a fast-track option for qualifying passengers. The upgrades are part of a broader modernization push at the airport, with officials signaling that additional investments are already in the pipeline. Authorities have not yet specified a full timeline for the remaining planned improvements. The initiative reflects Curaçao's ongoing effort to strengthen its tourism infrastructure and improve the arrival experience for the growing number of visitors to the island. Faster, more efficient border processing is considered critical to maintaining the island's competitiveness as a Caribbean destination. The expansion positions Hato Airport more in line with modern international travel standards seen at larger regional hubs.