WILLEMSTAD - The plans for the Curaçao Tourism Authority (CTA) will definitely not continue. This was announced by the Minister of Economic Development (MEO) Ruisandro Cijntje in parliament. The current Curaçao Tourism Development Foundation (CTDF) already has the characteristics of a tourism authority.
Before the corona pandemic, the Rhuggenaath government agreed with the advice for the transition to an 'independent tourist office', as desired by the hospitality industry and the Curaçao Hospitality & Tourism Association (CHATA). Former Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath signed the decision in March 2020 for the name change of the CTDF and the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) to Curaçao Tourism Authority.
According to Cijntje, the current CTDF has all the characteristics of a tourism authority and will therefore remain as it stands. However, the organization will be transformed into a destination marketing & organization (DMMO), the minister replied to questions from PAR member Steven Croes. “The transition is necessary to be able to perform tasks as efficiently and effectively as possible.” With that, the establishment of CTA seems to have been definitively discontinued.
The minister does want to change a few things regarding the policy pursued by CTDF. For example, the organization must become more autonomous, in order to be able to 'function in good cooperation with all stakeholders in the tourism sector'. CTDF will be responsible for the marketing of Curaçao as a tourist destination, the policy of public spaces such as beaches and the education and training of people.