Curacao Tourism Booms.Global Rediscovery of Euro-Caribbean Paradise Spurs Island-Wide Surge in Bookings, New Resort Development and Property Expansions WILLEMSTAD, Curacao -- Curacao, the largest and most populous of the Netherlands Antilles Netherlands Antilles, island group, an autonomous part of the Netherlands (2005 est. pop. 220,000), 371 sq mi (961 sq km), West Indies. Formerly known as the Dutch West Indies and Netherlands West Indies, they are divided into two groups. island chain in the southern Caribbean  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. , is experiencing a tourism boom with global tourist arrivals surging into double digits Double Digits was a pricing game on the American television game show, The Price Is Right. Played from April 20, 1973 through May 18, 1973's show, it was played for a car and used small prizes. for the first half of 2007. The increase has prompted island-wide development of six new resorts and expansion of five existing resorts that will deliver 1,241 new rooms over the next two years. For the first six months of the year, the 171-square mile island experienced an increase in visitor arrivals of 15.8 percent from Europe; 32.3 percent from South America South America, fourth largest continent (1991 est. pop. 299,150,000), c.6,880,000 sq mi (17,819,000 sq km), the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. ; and 14 percent from the Caribbean region. Though American arrivals showed an overall decline of 4.1 percent during the same time period, the month of June yielded a 16.4 percent increase in U.S. arrivals. Moreover, cruise ship visits to the island grew by 60 percent yielding a 17.1 percent increase in passenger visits. Tourism as an industry represents 15 percent of Curacao's GDP GDP (guanosine diphosphate): see guanine. . Curacao tourism officials credit a global rediscovery of the island's unique and diverse attributes for its newfound popularity. "We have been deeply engaged in marketing the many fundamental charms of Curacao worldwide and have successfully conveyed the essence of the island in a manner that has seemingly enticed potential visitors and businesses from all over the world," stated Mrs. Evita Nita of the Curacao Tourism Board. "The world has realized, or perhaps remembered, that Curacao is far more than just a beautiful beach; we are an authentic, real and wonderfully diverse destination that is rich in art, history, architecture, sports, cuisine and culture where travelers can enrich their lives by experiencing a place and way of life that is like nowhere else on Earth." Six new resorts are under construction at an investment of $230 million and will yield 988 rooms for the island between the end of the year and the end of 2009. These include the development of two major American chain resorts under the Hyatt and Renaissance flags, as well as privately owned regional resorts Caribbean Beach Resort, Flamingo Beheer, Palapa pa·la·pa n. 1. An open-sided dwelling with a thatched roof made of dried palm leaves. 2. A structure, such as a bar or restaurant in a tropical resort, that is open-sided and thatched with palm leaves. Beach Resort & Marina, and Toucan toucan (t  kăn`, t`kän), perching bird of the New World tropics, related to the woodpeckers. Beach Resort.
Five existing resorts are investing $26 million for an expansion of 252 rooms collectively that will be completed between the end of this year and the end of 2008. They are the Chogogo Resort, Clarion Hotel & Suites, Lions Dive & Beach Resort, Marazul Quality Suites, and Papagayo Beach Resort. Curacao: A Rich & Diverse Destination Though Curacao's original inhabitants
The game is based loosely on the concepts from SameGame. were the Arawak Amerindians, the Spaniards' arrival in 1499 spelled their end. By 1634, the island was occupied by the Dutch who founded the capital of Willemstad and brought the distinct culture of the Netherlands Dutch culture or culture of the Netherlands is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the foreign influences thanks to the merchant and exploring spirit of the Dutch and the influx of immigrants. to the island for good. The natural harbor of Willemstad became a hot spot for trade which became Curacao's most lucrative economic activity and positioned the island for its key role in the Atlantic slave trade The Atlantic slave trade, also known as the Transatlantic slave trade, was the trade of African persons supplied to the colonies of the "New World" that occurred in and around the Atlantic Ocean. It lasted from the 16th century to the 19th century. . This newfound wealth fueled the development of the island's unique architectural masterpieces which blend Dutch and Spanish colonial styles. The vast array of historic buildings in and around Willemstad earned the capital a place on UNESCO's World Heritage list. Former plantation estates and West African West Africa A region of western Africa between the Sahara Desert and the Gulf of Guinea. It was largely controlled by colonial powers until the 20th century. West African adj. & n. style "kas di pal'i maishi" or former slave dwellings, are peppered throughout the island, some of which have been restored and can be visited by tourists. When the Dutch abolished slavery in 1863, widespread economic hardship led to vast emigration emigration: see immigration; migration. until the establishment of the oil refinery in 1914, when the destiny of the island was dramatically changed. Built on the site of the former slave trade slave trade Capturing, selling, and buying of slaves. Slavery has existed throughout the world from ancient times, and trading in slaves has been equally universal. Slaves were taken from the Slavs and Iranians from antiquity to the 19th century, from the sub-Saharan market, the refinery provided an abundant source of employment for the local population and fueled a wave of immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. from surrounding nations. Today, the transcontinental island of Curacao has a varied population of more than 134,000 consisting of more than 55 nationalities, providing visitors with an inimitable in·im·i·ta·ble adj. Defying imitation; matchless. [Middle English, from Latin inimit multi-cultural, multi-ethnic experience. Languages widely spoken are Papiamento, Dutch, Spanish, and English; many inhabitants speak all four. Curacao's proximity to South America resulted in a long-standing Latin American influence on the island, especially in the areas of language and cuisine. Local food is called "kuminda krioyo," derived from the Spanish words for "creole" and "food," and blends the vibrant and bold flavors and ingredients typical of Caribbean and Latin American cuisines. Curacao lies just outside the meteorological me·te·or·ol·o·gy n. The science that deals with the phenomena of the atmosphere, especially weather and weather conditions. [French météorologie, from Greek area known as the hurricane belt, guaranteeing minimum vacation interruption with a 0-3 percent chance of a strike. The island's semi-arid climate means travelers will even find vegetation atypical of the Caribbean, including various cacti, thorny shrubs and evergreen trees. Nature lovers and hiking buffs can venture to Curacao's highest point, the 1,230-foot Mount Christoffel which lies in a reserved wildlife park, known as Curacao Christoffelpark, and can be explored by car, bike, horse or on foot. Curacao is renowned for its coral reefs and 160 dive spots located mostly off the calmer south coast. The most remarkable feature of diving there is known as the "blue edge," a steep drop off of the sea floor only a few hundred feet from the shore which enables divers to reach the reefs without a boat. The rocky and current-ridden north coast of the island is best suited for highly experienced divers with boats. Avid sport fishermen will find some of the wildest trips in the Caribbean here. Even golfers can tee-off at the island's championship golf course. Casinos are abundant as well. "The phrase 'something for everyone' doesn't begin to describe this beautiful island," added Mrs. Nita. "Curacao has everything for everyone, and then some. A week is hardly enough time to see and do it all." Daily arrivals into Curacao are available on American Airlines connecting through Miami. Continental Airlines provides non-stop weekly service to Curacao from Newark. In December, Delta will begin weekly service, connecting more than 40 cities to Curacao through Atlanta. Curacao is currently celebrating its Culture, Cuisine & Heritage Experience, a three-month celebration of its history, diversity and culture that lasts through November 15. For information, visit www.curacaoculture.com. More information about Curacao and a free destination DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. are available by calling 800-3-CURACAO (1-800-328-7222), or by visiting www.curacao.com. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion