With its crystal clear beaches, breathtaking diving spots, magnificent landmarks and world famous festivities; Curacao tourism played a major factor in their current economy. Tourists from all over the world visit Curacao because of its unique beauty. The Curacao Tourism Board always increase their effort in gaining traction in the North American market. Their annual budget in promoting their tourism to the North American and European market are always increasing. With the assistance of the Dutch government, traffic from North America have increased by 8% within six months alone (January to August of 2003). Hotels and recreation facilities flourished throughout Curacao, as the demand in tourism increased.
Curacao’s tourists compose mostly of Europeans, South Americans and their Caribbean neighbors. Now, Curacao is attracting tourists from different parts of the globe, mostly, from the United States and Canada. With over a half a million visitors annually (of which over 300,000 are from cruise ships.). Though not really promoting mass market, the Curacao Tourism Board (CTB) is aiming to double its North American visitors (over 40,000 to 80,000 annually.). Curacao is slowly making itself known worldwide in the tourism industry.
The Curacao tourism industry is far from what we call a fully developed one. The Curacao Tourism Board is working hard to make Curacao competitive in the world of tourism. One of the many projects they are currently working on is the modernization of the Curacao Airport (Hato International Airport). With the awareness of a new tourism industry, hotels recreational facilities in Curacao are developing increasingly. Making themselves competitive with the rest of the world.
The main factor of Curacao’s tourism is its uniqueness from most of the other the Caribbean destination. It gives a different experience, very rich in its historical and cultural heritage, is known to be the best diving in the world; though underdeveloped, and offers a great quality of life.
For those who want to indulge great culture in their destination, Curacao is the place to be. Most Curacao tourists will be pleased of what its resorts and recreational facilities got to offer. You can go to the beach, do some diving, hike on the mountains, go shopping and the most fun of all, the festivities. Festivities in Curacao is very much famous. Where else in the world do you have festivities all year round? Only in Curacao. As most tourist in Curacao tourist point out; Curacao is truly a once in a lifetime experience.
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Curacao Gasoline
... a Venezuelan oil company owned by the state. So two days after closing down the refinery, it opened under PDVSA. Currently, Curacao Isla refinery refines about 200,000 barrels of crude oil daily, making its production more than 320,000 barrels a day. Central America and the Caribbean islands get about half of Curacao gasoline production. The United States and Canada is being sold around 15% of it, as well as South America. The remainder of which is sold locally and in the neighbor Bonaire. While there are locals who are against these oil refineries that produce the much coveted Curacao gasoline, they are undeniably the foundation of Curacao's economy. Providing a vast number of employment opportunities for locals and immigrants alike, these refineries serve as the major source of Curacao gasoline for many places. Some residents would rather...
Curacao Government
... is in charge of its defense and foreign affairs. The Curacao government is based on a parliamentary democracy. The parliament is composed of council ministers and a prime minister. The governor general is appointed by the Queen of Netherlands. The governor general is also the crown representative of the Netherlands Antilles. The Curacao government's elected legislative officials assemble regularly to preside over the administration of government. Each of the Netherlands Antilles has its internal affairs ran by the island's council and executive council which is composed of elected island council and a queen appointed governor. The newly elected prime minister of the island is Emily Elhage-Jonge. The Curacao government has extended its infrastructure and modernized. The island has a large desalinization plant for its water and its oil refinery installation is still a major factor in the economy. The Curacao government's revenue is still depending on the Curacao Tourism remittances from Holland. The oil refinery is more than 90% of its total export earnings. Offshore banking and tourism are also a major factor in...
Curacao Culture
... because of Curacao Tourism it is influenced by African and European cultures. One of the distinguishing marks of the famed Curacao culture is its festivities. Curacao's yearly festivity (which is also known as "Curacao Carnival") is rapidly gaining the attention in the tourism industry worldwide. It is a gathering of different cultural groups that participate in a roadmarch, showing their cultural heritage. Most people don't know that the Curacao community is composed of more that 42 ethnic groups (mostly of African and European descent). Because of its strategic location and the Dutch motivated religious freedom, it has attracted trade market from different parts of the globe during the nineteenth century. Even its language (Papiamentu) is a variation of Portuguese, Spanish, and African language that originated from the slaves that was part of the history of Curacao. The Papiamentu is (Curacao language) the most common language that is spoken on Curacao but is slowly diminishing....
Curacao Liqueur
... ever tasted the famous Curacao liqueur? Did you know that the liqueur has a long history? Did you also know that the Curacao liqueur is the international ambassador of the island? It's because the Curacao liqueur is more known than the island itself. Curacao liqueur is and orange flavored liqueur. The Curacao liqueur is made from the dried peels of the bitter oranges or "Laraha" oranges that is found on the Caribbean, specifically the island of Curacao. Laraha is the cousin of the Valencia orange. When the Spaniards discovered Curacao in 1499, they planned to develop its agriculture. They brought a plant known as the "Valencia" orange all the way from Spain. But due to the island's climate and its soil conditions, the fruit of the Valencia orange from juicy and sweet became bitter, almost inedible. The plan to farm the Valencia oranges was then abandoned and the Valencia oranges grew wild. It was then discovered...
The Curacao Flag
... the upper left of the other star. A yellow stripe cuts horizontally near the center. Have you ever wondered what's the meaning of two stars and the single yellow stripe of the Curacao flag? The two white stars represent the two islands of Curacao; Curacao and small Curacao or also known as Klein Curacao (a small uninhabited island southeast of Curacao). The yellow stripe depicts the sun dividing the blue sky and blue sea (that's why the color of the Curacao flag is blue). The five points of the star symbolizes the five continents of which the local population originated. Curacao celebrates its "Curacao Flag Day" on July 2. It is one of the many "Official Holiday" that Curacao celebrates annually. It is celebration starts with and flag raising ceremony at the Village of Barber and at the Plaza Brion. The day is celebrated with...
Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao: Abc’s Of The Caribbean
... from Spain, Portugal and West Indies. The official language of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao is Dutch while Papiamento is their local language. The three islands are famous for their beach, diving spots and of course lots and lots of sunshine. Like most of the islands in the Caribbean, the ABC islands have a hot and dry climate. Yet unlike their neighbors, the landscape is arid and flat. Their coastline boasts with white sands, crystal clear waters, and they have an offshore coral reef that is teeming with marine life; making the three islands a haven for divers, water sports enthusiast and tourist who would just love to lay back on the beach. Each island has its own well-funded national park. The best time of the year to go to the Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao is within mid-December to mid-April where the weather is at its finest. That's also the peak of its tourist season. Though the three islands seldom experiences...
Curacao Island Map
... found at www.caribbean-on-line.com . The maps on this particular site are so comprehensive and will no doubt let you get around the island pretty well. A laptop would have been the best tool to access sites like this especially while you're driving. Visiting Google Earth is highly recommended because it will provide you driving directions. Driving tips, signs and directions can also be found at www.curacao-travelguide.com . So if at one point you find yourself somewhat unsure which road to take, a few clicks will give you the right answer. But if laptop is not an option, internet caf s are available in Curacao as well. Handled by a GSM network, you can actually go online in a caf and let them print out all these in-depth maps as well as the Curacao Island map. Traveling in a foreign place like Curacao can be stressful. What's with...
Map Of Curacao
... is in the area and what to expect. The most likely you could do is order online. There are a lot of websites that offer maps of Curacao. All have to do is search it on a web based search engine (www.google.com or www.yahoo.com is highly recommended.). When choosing for a map, make sure that it is durable. With the wear and tear, most maps easily deteriorate after a few days of use. Some maps that are for sale on the internet, are glossy or laminated. Be sure that the map you will buy is of high quality. It is very important for a traveler or a tourist to have a map, especially if you are in Curacao. With all the beautiful places to go to you might get confused. When...
Curacao Hotels
... kids, conference facility and private beach is just 10 minutes away from the airport or four miles from the island capital, Willemstad. Each guestroom has their own balcony and has complete amenities. It offers lots of activities such as golf, tennis, diving and snorkeling. Breezes Curacao Resort Spa and Casino This resort is the first Super-Inclusive resort, not only in Curacao, but in the whole Southern Caribbean. This magnificent resort is just 10 miles away from the international airport, flanking the immaculate Undersea National Park and the Sea Aquarium. The resort is complete with amenities and lots of activities to choose from. Curacao Marriot Beach Resort and Emerald Casino Captures the charisma and sun drenched warmth of Curacao's old-Amsterdam. Has a magnificent view of the Piscadera Bay. Only fifteen miles from the Hato International Airport, just a stone's-throw away from the World Trade Center. Has Watersports...
Maps Of Curacao
... have one. You can either, buy one from your local bookstore, order online or download one from the internet. There are lots of website that offer maps of Curacao. All you have to do is find a map that is detailed enough for you to purchase or download. If you are opting to use the internet, here is a list of website that have maps of Curacao. Some are Curacao Tourism useful enough; some just show where certain locations are. Just choose a map that you may find useful. * http://www.ebay.com - A highly popular web based search engine that lets you search for anything that is for auction. Just key-in "maps of Curacao" then click "Search" and eBay will do the rest. Highly recommended for those who want to search for things at a low...
Sports In Curacao
... a 2-mile jogging track. Horseback riding is also offered on Curacao. One can go horseback riding for an Curacao Tourism hour or for the whole day. One of the all-time favorite sports in Curacao is golf. Yes, golf. Curacao has not one but two world class golf courses. One is the Blue Bay Golf Club; a 18 hole AAA championship golf course. It is considered one of the top 50 golf courses in the world. The other is the Curacao Golf and Squash Club. This 9 hole golf course has a unique and unusual sand greens. Tennis is also a popular sport in Curacao. Almost all resorts and hotels in Curacao have a tennis court. Knowing all this, make sure that you plan what you will be doing day by day if you are planning on going to Curacao....
Curacao Map
... the interesting areas you can go and have your picture developed on the outlet nearest you. http://www.ehi.com/travel/carib/bonaire/hot_map2.html Another website where you can Curacao Tourism have a Curacao map. Although it isn't as detailed as the one mentioned above, this is a Curacao Map and Hotel Locator. It shows the where the first class hotels and resorts are. If you want to go to a particular area in Curacao and you are looking for a nice place to stay on that area just look at the map then if you decided to stay on that particular hotel/resort on that are just click on the name of the hotel/resort. Say, you are going to Willemstad (Curacao's capital), just look at the number that is on Willemstad and you will see what hotel corresponds to that number (there's the Curacao Plaza Hotel in Willemstad). Just click...
Curacao At A Glance
... and African dialects by the slaves) English and Spanish are widely spoken. Curacao's first inhabitants were the Arawak Amerindians and were later decimated by the Spanish expedition of Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. Rediscovered by the Dutch in 1634 but was ignored by colonist due to lack of resources such as gold which was what most colonists seek. Curacao then proved its worth in commerce and shipping trade. Curacao is famous for its beaches and diving spots. Over 35 beaches with a wide variety, some surrounded by cliffs and rocks others by flora and fauna, they all have the same clear turquoise waters. Because the unusual feature that is locally known as the "blue edge", Curacao's sea floor drops off just a few hundred meters from the shore where one can go diving without a boat. Curacao has a lot of astounding architectures and landmarks because of Curacao Tourism its rich history. The city of Willemstad has many attractions one...
Curacao Games
And just when you thought Curacao games stop there, think again. Curacao has two bowling places to go to. So bowling buffs can still enjoy their favorite Curacao Tourism game even if they're a thousand miles from home. And what better way to spend the day than to go bird-watching! Curacao is home to more than a hundred bird species. So whether you're curled up with a good book on the beach, or following your bike trail, you're sure to come across some of these winged creatures. Chess and indoor karting are well-known Curacao games as well. Curacaoans have their Curacao Open chess tournament and an indoor karting lane called Tracks that offers other amenities like gaming room and pool tables. Drag Races are a big thing in Curacao. Considered one of the most famous Curacao games, its Curacao International Raceway track is modern and...
Information On Curacao Island
... on Curacao Island. Do you feel like you need to know more information on Curacao Island? Do you feel like you're not sure of making the trip to the island unless you learn a few more stuff about it? If you're worrying about the transportation you are going to use in getting around the island, worry not. Curacao has its share of reliable car rental companies that are holding office at the airport as well. No cause for concern would be the accommodations too. Unless it's peak season and if prior reservations have been made, Curacao hotels and resorts will take you on a grand journey to a comfortable and memorable stay. Information on Curacao Curacao Tourism Island such as the language and currency they use are also important to first-time visitors. While English are widely understood in Curacao, it is helpful to learn...