Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) in collaboration with
with Bonaire International Airport (BIA) and Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association
(BONHATA), organized the second quarterly Bonaire Tourism Update for 2024 on July
11th
, 2024, at Delfins Beach Resort.
Miles Mercera, CEO of TCB, shared the preliminary results indicating that Bonaire
welcomed 94,047 stayover visitors during the year’s first half (Jan-June 2024),
compared to the same period in 2023, the total was 88,749, and in 2022 it was 85,100.
Between January and May, a total of 89 cruise ships visited Bonaire, with a total of
208,810 passengers, compared to 2023, which was 108 cruise ships with a total of
275,702 passengers. Also, information was provided about upcoming trade shows and
other events in which TCB will take part, as well as ongoing campaigns with KLM, TUI,
PSV, and so on. On the island, TCB is currently preparing for this year’s Regatta event,
Bonaire Tourism Summit, Taste of Bonaire events, and Bonaire by Night, to name a few.
Different press trips from the European and North American markets are also planned
for the upcoming months. TCB and island partners are also preparing for the inaugural
flights from JetBlue and Corendon in November. TCB also shared the industry’s
challenges for 2024, such as the necessary funding required to achieve the objectives
outlined in the STMP 2017-2027.
Veroesjka de Windt, CEO of BONHATA, reported that the occupancy rate (Occ %) slightly
increased in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Still, the
numbers show a dip in Occ % after March, which is consistent with 2023. The first
quarter of 2024 started with a lower Average Daily Rate (ADR) than in 2023. However, by
April, the ADR had stabilized, surpassing the ADR of Q2 in 2023. This positive change is
likely due to strategic pricing adjustments by accommodation providers. Q2 displayed a
mixed Revenue per available room (RevPAR) but a generally improving trend. May and
June saw significant improvements compared to the same months in 2023, likely due to
increased ADR and a stabilization or improvement in occupancy rates. The forecast for
the third quarter of 2024 shows a promising outlook with slight improvements in ADR
and RevPAR. Although the Occ% shows a slight decrease, it remains relatively stable,
indicating consistent demand.
Maarten van der Scheer, Director of BIA, noted a slight reduction in the number of flights
from the Netherlands for quarter 2 of 2024 compared to quarter 2 of 2023. The inter-
island carriers’ development was stable, while the North American market had a strong
April performance. The outlook for the summer months looks good, with slight growth
for the European and North American markets. Furthermore, the airport continues with
development throughout the year.
