International Law

CURACAO TOURISM BOOMS

By Karel.Frielink

Article on Curacao by Ben Fox (Associated Press)

Various newspapers, including USA Today and Miami Herald, published an article by Ben Fox. Here follows an excerpt:

In a grim season for Caribbean tourism, an island just north of Venezuela stands out: Hotel rooms are scarce and discounts unavailable.

That’s largely because Curacao is crowded with Venezuelans, many fleeing their country’s spiraling inflation and currency controls for a Dutch Caribbean island best known for its diving opportunities and historic city center, a U.N. World Heritage site. (…)

Curacao officials project 2008 visitor growth of 30 percent to about 390,000 people. The latest statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization show that rate would be the highest in the region at a time when the global economic crisis and airline flight cutbacks are eroding the key industry. (…)

The U.S. also has ties to the island of 140,000. For nearly 10 years, the U.S. has stationed military planes at the Willemstad airport for multinational counter-drug missions in the Caribbean. American officials say the operation contributes about $25 million to the local economy.

Click here to read the full story.

Curacao boasts the most culturally diverse experience in the Caribbean. Its capital Willemstad is a picturesque place. Curacao has many fine hotels & resorts as well as 40 beaches spread themselves along the outline of the island. Curacao continues to grow in popularity each year (click here for further information).

Karel Frielink

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Full post as published by Karel's Legal Blog on January 02, 2009 (boomark / email).