Bonaire welcomed a remarkable 182,181 stay-
over visitors in 2024, surpassing previous records set in 2023 (169,706 visitors),
2022 (169,200 visitors), and 2019 (157,000 visitors). This new milestone represents
a 16% growth compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019 and a 7.35% increase
compared to 2023.
Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) set a target of 180,000 visitors for 2024 based
on the 2017 Strategic Tourism Master Plan (STMP). The island's achievement of
exceeding this goal underscores Bonaire’s sustained tourism growth for the fourth
consecutive year.
Visitor Demographics
Bonaire welcomed a diverse range of visitors in 2024. Dutch visitors formed the
largest group, accounting for 45% of total visitors. American visitors followed with
25%, while visitors from Curaçao made up 13%. Other significant contributors
included visitors from Germany (2%), Aruba (2%), Canada (3%), and Belgium (1%).
December 2024 witnessed the highest monthly visitor number, with 19,522 arrivals,
35% of which were from the United States. This surge was significantly influenced by
the new JetBlue service, which commenced on November 5 th , 2024.
Tourist Stay and Accommodation Trends
December 2024 also registered the longest average length of stay, with visitors
spending a total of 198,595 nights on the island. In total, visitors spent an estimated
1,764,836 nights in Bonaire, averaging 9.8 nights per stay, reflecting a 5%
increase compared to 2023 (1,674,163 nights).
Repeat visitors played a critical role in Bonaire’s success, with 56% of tourists having
previously visited the island, while 44% were first-time guests.
Visitor Purpose and Preferences
The primary reasons for visiting Bonaire were vacation (54%), followed by diving
(13.5%), business (7.4%), and visiting friends and family (8%).
Dutch visitors predominantly visited for vacation (67%) and stayed for an
average of 12 nights. Most Dutch visitors came from North Holland, South
Holland, and North Brabant. Their age demographics showed significant
representation in the 55-64 (21%), 45-54 (18.9%), and 25-34 (16.2%) age
groups.
* American visitors, on the other hand, were more evenly split between diving
(47%) and vacation (39%), with a shorter average stay of 7.9 nights. They
primarily arrived from Florida, New York, Texas, California, Georgia,
Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Their
age demographics indicated a significant presence in the 55-64 (23%), 65+
(19.2%), and 45-54 (19.7%) age brackets.
* Curaçao visitors had shorter stays, averaging 4.2 nights, with business
(27%), vacation (22%), and visiting friends and family (14%) being their
primary reasons for travel. Accommodation preferences showed that 43% of visitors chose hotels or resorts,
followed by 12.5% staying in apartments, 7.5% opting for villas, and 9% staying
with friends or family.
Visitor Satisfaction and Future Prospects
TCB's exit surveys highlighted a highly positive response from visitors. 93% of
visitors indicated they would recommend Bonaire to others, 92% rated their stay as
excellent, and 90% expressed a strong likelihood of revisiting the island.
Elesiër Angel, Interim Statutory Director of TCB, expressed pride in Bonaire's
tourism sector, stating, “We are proud to see Bonaire’s tourism sector not only
rebounding but exceeding expectations year after year. The collaboration between
the public and private sectors has been instrumental in achieving this milestone. Our
commitment to sustainable growth and enhancing the visitor experience remains
steadfast as we look ahead to another promising year.”
The success of 2024 highlights Bonaire's resilience and the effectiveness of strategic
partnerships. TCB will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to enhance the
island's appeal and ensure sustainable growth in the years to come.