TUI continues to grow in the Antilles
The demand for sunny holidays in Curaçao continues to grow. TUI therefore adjusts its offer accordingly to give more travelers the opportunity to fly to the Antilles. An extra flight for winter 2018/19 was already planned, but TUI decided to start with their extra flight as of June 25th, 2018.
This upcoming summer the extra flight capacity to Curaçao will be deployed during the high season months this summer in combination with Punta Cana. Starting next winter, a 10th flight will be added to the fixed flight program to the Antilles, also as a direct flight, both to Curaçao and back to Amsterdam. This expansion means that there will be nine flights to Curaçao every week, three of which will be direct flights. Destinations Aruba and Bonaire will be flown four times a week.
Bookings can already be made to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao for winter 2018/19 and summer 2019.
American Airlines adds 3rd daily frequency from Miami to Curaçao
Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB), Curaçao Airport Partners (CAP), Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH) and Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA) are pleased to announce a 3rd daily frequency of American Airlines to Curaçao during the winter season 2018 -2019.
American Airlines will add a 3rd daily flight from Miami to Curaçao starting December 19, 2018. The new frequency will go on sale starting May 14th 2018. Currently American Airlines operates 2 flights per day to Curaçao, meaning that as of this coming winter season; Curaçao International Airport will have a total of 3 daily flights from Miami to Curaçao. With this announcement, passengers now have more options to fly to their favorite Caribbean destination, Curaçao. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from the United States of America.
Air Canada adds 3rd flight from Toronto to Curaçao
Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB), Curaçao Airport Partners (CAP), Curaçao Airport Holding (CAH) and Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA) are pleased to announce a 3rd non-stop service of Air Canada to Curaçao during the winter season 2018 – 2019.
Air Canada will add a 3rd weekly flight from Toronto to Curaçao starting December 2018.
Currently Air Canada operates from Toronto to Curaçao;
1 year-round flight and 1 weekly flight during the winter season. Air Canada also operates 1 weekly flight from Montreal during the winter season. During the winter season 2018 – 2019, Curaçao will have a total of 3 weekly flights from Toronto and 1 weekly flight from Montreal with Air Canada. All flights will be operated with an Airbus 320, which is also an upgauge of equipment. Additionally, Air Canada also announced a change from their Air Canada Rouge product category to Air Canada. Air Canada offers a premium product versus Air Canada Rouge which is their low-cost airline.
Air Canada started flying to Curaçao in 2011. This winter season looks promising with a weekly capacity of 566 seats from Canada to Curaçao. The total weekly seat capacity also includes 1 flight from Montreal. Canada is one of our growing markets. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Canada.
SAIL 2018 @ CURAÇAO
After the success from the “Sailing South America 2010”, the Latin-American Navies agreed during the XXV Naval Inter-American Conference - held in the year 2012 in Cancún (Mexico) - that every four years a meeting of tall ships, will be hold under the name of “Sailing Latin America”. Its purpose would be to reach out and to strengthen the bonds of friendship, between the different Navies and the population of the countries and ports visited.
The Chilean Navy took on the responsibility of organizing the event Sailing Latin America 2018, bearing in mind that this year the country celebrates its Bicentennial and the foundation of the Chilean Navy.
“Sailing Latin America 2018 ” will gather a significant number of tall sailing ships of different places around the world, strengthening the brotherhood and fellowship among those participating and their Navies. These sailing ships will set sail for 157 days, in which they will navigate the waters that run along the coasts of Latin America, covering more than 12,000 nautical miles, equivalent to 19,312 kilometers.
The ships that are a part of this challenge will have the opportunity to visit the most important cities and ports of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Uruguay, Panama and Curaçao, countries that will open their ports to receive them and where thousands of people will be able to get to know and tour each of these sailing ships.
Between July 15, 2018 and July 18, 2018 at least eight so-called tall ships visit the harbor of Curaçao, but the organization is hoping for more.
CURAÇAO SCORES AGAIN WITH “MOST IMAGINATIVE” BOOTH AWARD AT THE NEW YORK TIMES
TRAVEL SHOW
The Curaçao Tourist Board fascinated thousands of New Yorkers with a 360 degree virtual reality experience of the Queen Emma Bridge (Curaçao) at the New York Times Travel Show last weekend.
The New York Times Travel Show is the largest trade and consumer travel event in North America, featuring over 500 exhibitors from more than 150 countries. In addition to discounts and special offers, the show provides educational seminars and live entertainment for families, individuals, couples and seniors. The 2016 New York Times Travel Show was held January 8 – 10, 2016 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Curaçao’s presence at the show was the perfect opportunity to get in front of 6,000+ trade Professionals, 600+ media professionals and 15,000+ consumers from across the tri-state area.
This year the CTB team in the USA replicated our iconic Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, also known as the “Swinging Old Lady” as the booth display. This along with a Virtual Reality (VR) experience of actually walking over the pontoon bridge and getting a 360 degree view of downtown Willemstad. Curaçao scored by being innovative in bringing such experience that gives a real sense of what it feels like to be on the island, the New York Times Travel Show awarded the destination with the “Most Imaginative” booth at the show. This award recognizes excellence and innovation in exhibitor booths, displays and presentations.
CTB was joined by a number of on-island partners, including Floris Suite Hotel Spa & Beach Club, Livingstone Jan Thiel Resort and Papagayo Curaçao. These partners supported CTB in strengthening the Curaçao brand at the show and promoted our non-stop flights with JetBlue by reaching New York-based consumers directly with special offers and trip giveaways. Throughout the three-day event, the Curaçao booth handed out over 5,000 pieces of collateral and received over 450,000 impressions on social media with visitors using the hashtag #ExperienceCuracao on social platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
In addition to the consumer trade show, the CTB team presented at the New York Times Travel Industry Conference, a comprehensive education program designed for travel professionals to over 100 registered travel agents in the New York area.
CARNAVAL 2016
The Curaçao Carnival is an experience unlike any other.
Reason why they would like to share this unique experience with the world.
Join as a spectator along the road-side or as a participant marching and dancing in one of the many Carnival groups.
Children's Parade: January 31, 2016
Teens Parade: February 05, 2016
Grand Parade: February 07, 2016
Children Farewell Parade: February 08, 2016
Farewell Parade: February 09, 2016
BUY A HOME IN CURAÇAO
Are you planning to buy a home in Curacao? Plain and simple, owning a home can improve your quality of life, provide stability and give you a sense of control you just can't get from renting. You have a place to live when you rent, but buying is something much deeper – and better.
The intangibles are tough to measure, but there are other benefits you can quantify:
- Financial investment:
Your monthly mortgage payment creates equity for you, not your landlord.
- The interest on your mortgage is a tax deduction:
While this isn't a reason in itself to buy a home in Curacao, it's nice to get a break at tax time.
- Fixed monthly housing payment:
If you opt for a fixed-rate mortgage, the monthly rate of your mortgage won't change for the length of the term.
- Tax-free gain:
When it's time to sell your home, you don’t pay taxes on the proceeds of the sale that are above what you paid (with some restrictions).
For most people, finding the right home begins with a house-hunting strategy combining personal preferences, guidance from others (including an agent) and a mix of neighborhood exploring and online search.
For some, the search takes a while; others find what they want right away. In either case, your real estate agent can be a huge resource of insight and guidance, working through issues or complications that arise along the way.
Here’s a general outline of what to expect during a home purchase, from the buyer's perspective.
Buyers make a purchase offer.
This is it! You've found the home of your dreams in Curacao, looked over the property disclosure form, reviewed comparable homes, talked it over with your agent and submitted an offer. The sellers may accept your first offer, but more often will return a counteroffer. In fact, additional negotiations are common, and your agent will help you through this generally stressful stage.
It is wise to hire an inspector – your agent can provide several options – to check the home and point out minor and major problems that should be fixed before closing. The inspector can provide you with a list of requested work, and the sellers have the option to complete the tasks, do some of them but not others, or reject the request. The sides will negotiate until reaching an agreement.
The sellers accept.
Once everyone is happy with the terms, the parties have reached what is known as mutual acceptance and enter into a purchase and sale agreement. Your agent will make a copy of your passport / ID and needs to verify your home address. The purchase and sale agreement will then be provided to you. As a buyer you have the right to annul the purchase within 3 days after signing the agreement without mension of cause. This 'time to reconsider' only applies to private persons.
Buyers make payment in escrow of notary.
To solidify your intent to buy, you'll make a deposit on the property. The amount varies, but is generally 10 percent of the purchase price. You'll make this payment to the notary’s office escrow, not the seller. Note: This money counts toward your payment before closing later.
Buyers apply for a mortgage.
This step is streamlined if you've already been preapproved for a loan (which is a smart thing to do). If not, you'll begin the loan application process now.
Closing time arrives.
Once contingencies are removed and financing is set, all parties sign the deed of transfer at the notary’s office, and the transaction closes. If parties are not on the island for this signing, they can give a power of attorney to the notary office.
Packing begins!
When the final signatures are in place, it’s time to put down the pens, shake hands, exchange smiles and start packing for the move!
AMERICANS ARE NOW LEGALLY ALLOWED IN CURAÇAO
The admission requirements to Curaçao for the Dutch, regarding residence and work, now apply to American citizens. This means that Americans are able to live and work in Curaçao with a legal statement, without a work- or residence permit. These requirements are equivalent as of June 1st.
United States citizens may stay as a tourist in Curaçao for six consecutive months within a period of one year. If they want to stay longer or work in those six months, they need to apply for admission, by means of a legal statement. Citizens of the United States are therefore exempt of applying for a so-called 'work permit'.
Furthermore, United States citizens are allowed to stay on the island, while waiting for their statement. They may even start working at the moment the statement is lodged.
Americans who have been staying in Curaçao with a permit for more than ten consecutive years, will also receive their legal statement.
Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival
Only four weeks left untill the kick-off of the Curacao North Sea Jazz Festival! The final line-up is announced. On Friday September 4th the following artists will perform: Enrique Iglesias, Lionel Richie, Cassandra Wilson, Gregory Porter, Charles Bradley, Emeli Sande and the Isley Brothers.
On Saturday September 5th, John Legend, Usher, Bettye Lavette, Randy Newman, The Stanley Clarke Band, Wyclef Jean and the Pointer Sisiters will take over the stage. For more info about tickets and accomodation visit their website.
Visum Colombia
Colombian citizens no longer need a visa to travel to Curaçao
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Relations, Bert Koenders, announced during a press conference on Tuesday 5 May, 2015 that beginning 1 July of this year, Colombian citizens wishing to visit Curaçao no longer require a visa.
This is something that the Government of Curaçao had decided a while back, but still awaited approval of the Netherlands.
With the removal of the visa requirement, Colombians may not only come on holiday more easily, but there will be more business opportunities between Curaçao and Colombia. Surely this measure will generate more foreign exchange to the island.