Curaçao Tourism Is Surging, With American Visitors Up 20 Percent and a New September Record

The Dutch Caribbean island welcomed more than 63,000 stayover visitors in September, with strong growth from the United States, a jump in cruise arrivals and another month of rising tourism numbers.

Curaçao is having a remarkable year for tourism, and the Dutch Caribbean island just recorded another major milestone. More Americans are visiting, cruise traffic is climbing and September — traditionally one of the quieter months for Caribbean travel — delivered an 18 percent increase in stayover arrivals.

The island welcomed 63,565 stayover visitors in September 2026, up from 53,672 during the same month last year, according to newly released figures from the Curaçao Tourist Board. That represents nearly 10,000 additional visitors in a single month, continuing a year of uninterrupted monthly tourism growth.

And the United States is playing an increasingly important role in that expansion.

American Visitors Are Up 20 Percent

Curaçao welcomed 15,876 visitors from the United States in September, a 20 percent increase compared to September 2025. The U.S. remained the island’s second-largest source market, behind the Netherlands, which sent 18,740 visitors during the month.

American travelers are also Curaçao’s highest-spending visitors among its major markets, spending an average of $407 per person per day, according to the tourism board’s 2025 exit survey. That compares with $206 for Dutch visitors and $275 for Colombian travelers.

U.S. visitors stayed an average of 5.8 nights, with 68 percent choosing resort hotels rather than alternative accommodations.

The numbers reflect Curaçao’s growing position as a Caribbean vacation destination, with its colorful capital of Willemstad, sheltered beaches, excellent snorkeling and expanding collection of beachfront resorts. From the luxury of Baoase to the all-inclusive experience at Sandals Royal Curaçao, the island offers an increasingly diverse hotel scene.

Cruise Tourism Is Climbing, Too

Cruise traffic also recorded a significant increase in September. Curaçao welcomed 57,621 cruise passengers on 17 ship calls, compared to 32,372 passengers on nine calls in September 2025.

That’s a jump of approximately 78 percent in cruise passenger arrivals, giving the island another source of tourism growth beyond its expanding stayover market.

Across all source markets, the increases were widespread. Arrivals from the Caribbean rose 37 percent, followed by South America at 28 percent, North America at 23 percent and Europe at 8 percent.

More Than 642,000 Visitors So Far This Year

The September results are part of a larger tourism surge. During the first nine months of 2026, Curaçao welcomed 642,379 stayover visitors, an 11 percent increase from the 581,144 recorded during the same period in 2025.

Those visitors generated approximately 5.3 million overnight stays, up 10 percent year over year. Cruise arrivals reached 648,450 passengers through September, also an increase of 10 percent.

The United States accounted for 169,714 stayover visitors during the first nine months, representing 26 percent of the total. The Netherlands remained the largest market, with 196,350 arrivals, while Colombia, Canada, Brazil and Argentina rounded out the island’s other leading sources of visitors.

With visitor arrivals increasing in every month of 2026 so far, Curaçao is heading into the Caribbean’s peak winter travel season with strong momentum.

And for an island known for its beaches, colorful architecture, diving and distinctive Dutch Caribbean culture, the latest figures suggest that more travelers are discovering what Curaçao has to offer.