Bonaire’s Tourism Was Up 54% in 2006 … What Say you Aruba?

It would appear from reports that near by Bonaire’s tourism is growing in leaps and bounds as compared to Aruba. The tourism numbers are up in the amount of tourists to the island as well as those from cruise ships. Increases in tourism of 54% hardly seem to be what Aruba has been experiencing since the disappearance of Natalee Holloway almost 2 years ago. At this rate Aruba would be excited if they had a 5.4% increase. However, as everyone knows and states except Aruba these type of positive tourism numbers will not occur until there is “Justice for Natalee”.

In 2006, the number of tourists that visited Bonaire grew with 54.3 percent to 61.844; the number of tourists that visited the island in 2005 was 40.777.      

Compared to 2005, fewer cruise ships called in at the port of Kralendijk in 2006: 89 versus 78, a drop with 12.4 percent, which means that bigger cruise ships with more passengers on board are visiting Bonaire .

Amigoe, May 28, 2007: Cruise tourism grows with 54 percent    

KRALENDIJK – The tourism of Bonaire enters upon a new period with a planned growth for the next three years.   According to Tourism Corporation Bonaire ( TCB ), the island must grow to 80.000 tourists per year till 2009.    

 In 2006, the number of tourists that visited Bonaire grew with 54.3 percent to 61.844; the number of tourists that visited the island in 2005 was 40.777.      

Compared to 2005, fewer cruise ships called in at the port of Kralendijk in 2006: 89 versus 78, a drop with 12.4 percent, which means that bigger cruise ships with more passengers on board are visiting Bonaire .

The months with more cruise tourists in 2006 were February with 11.598, November with 12.658 and December with 14.101.   The total number of visitors in 2006 that stayed longer than 1 day grew with 22.2 percent.   This number will continue to grow with the increase of seat capacity since late last year from the Netherlands with ArkeFly, as well as from the United States with Continental Airlines from Newark .

The number of hotel rooms will increase this year, and with that also the seat capacity.   This can result in more tourists visiting the island per year, than is the case now, namely 60.000.