Sometimes Courage Falters and Hope Fades

Sometimes Courage Falters and Hope Fades

24 november 2025

On November 12, 2025, I wrote: “Better to turn halfway than to go completely astray.” This was in response to the announcement that economic policy would be adjusted to respect nature and heritage. For a brief moment, it seemed as if a genuine shift in direction was underway.

Now we have yet another new Minister of Economic Development. Although the policy has been in place for years—both on paper and in practice—we still hoped for new priorities. For a short while, it seemed that way. That is, until I read a few days ago that this minister believes it is a good idea to allow tourism to grow further to 1.5 million visitors per year (NU.cw, 2025).

In reality, policy should aim to reduce visitor numbers to around 0.5 million annually. A carrying capacity study was reportedly commissioned, and a draft may even exist, but I have never seen it—and no one seems to ask about it.

Since 2022, we have been breaking record after record; we can barely keep up with the growth. Yet the minister claims that Curaçao’s World Cup qualification will further boost economic development through tourism—not just hotels, but also apartments. Meanwhile, it is widely known that, as in other parts of the Caribbean, investors are displacing residents. But apparently, the minister is unaware of this. While countries around the world look for ways to curb mass tourism, we once again lag behind the facts.

The real problem is that the island has had no coherent economic policy, let alone a strategy, for more than thirty years. What we do is attract investors and give them generous incentives. It has become a project-based economy. We talk about export promotion and diversification, but in practice, we mainly build for tourists. And almost no one seems to care.

What we need is a real economic policy—and actual implementation—that prioritizes SMEs and local food production, alongside an alternative energy sector and a creative industry focused on ICT.

Reference (APA):NU.cw. (2025, November 17). Curaçao wil toerisme gecontroleerd laten groeien: 1,5 miljoen bezoekers is meer dan genoeg. https://nu.cw/2025/11/17/video-curacao-wil-toerisme-gecontroleerd-laten-groeien-15-miljoen-bezoekers-is-meer-dan-genoeg

Miguel Goede