WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government and the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA) have urged hotels and apartments on the island not to accept bookings from local guests. The so-called "staycation" goes against the lockdown measures and the instruction to stay at home.
There is no legal basis to ban local guests, but a staycation goes against what the government wants to achieve by allowing people to stay at home as much as possible. This is according to the Minister of Economic Development Steven Martina. According to Martina, it increases the risk of infection with the coronavirus and is therefore not recommended.
Curaçao Chronicle received this message from one of its readers:
“A great hotel offer to spread the virus
Yesterday I received several information and complaints from hotel guests that groups of locals checked into their hotels over the weekend. Groups of up to 50 people were partying there in the hotel, loudly and regardless of the other guests. Without facemask and drinking together from the same glasses and also diligently sharing while eating. Covid-19 does not seem to exist for these guests, and they seem to love spreading the virus to the tourists. If that is the big, good concept of the hotels, then good night Curacao. I can understand that the hotels are trying to make a little extra money, but then allowing these guests to party and ignore all the rules is extremely bad advertising for Curacao. Obviously, some still do not understand that this virus is dangerous and that it is no time for parties and reckless celebrations. It makes me very angry when I hear these things and the people in charge of the hotels obviously don't care. I am sad that this is still happening now.”