WILLEMSTAD - The occupancy rate of accommodation holders affiliated with CASHA, the association of entrepreneurs working in the tourism sector, is in February 2021: 28.3%,
this is an increase from January 2021 when we counted 19.9%.
With these figures we can show the relevant authorities that one year after the start of COVID-19 on March 13, 2020, there is a slightly positive perspective, but that we are far from there!
By way of illustration, one of our members indicated that they had an occupancy rate in February 2021 of 11.6% compared to 97% in February 2020!
Support from the government, including the T.V.L. encountering fixed costs is therefore still essential to prevent small entrepreneurs from sinking deeper into their debt mountain. CASHA finds it inconceivable that self-employed persons and small entrepreneurs are not eligible for this promised scheme. After all, they also have fixed costs!
Of the 31 properties, 7 did not receive any guests in February,
6 properties had more than 50% occupancy this month, of which the highest, 91%, indicates that these are regular guests who come back every year in February for a month.
This accommodation is located on Banda abou, the 2nd highest with 73% can also be found on Banda abou, the 3rd with 61% occupancy can be found in Jan Thiel.
The other accommodations score between 2.5 and 55% occupancy.
There has been a massive cancellation or rebooking in February, at one accommodation all bookings for February have been canceled!
The reason given was: Code orange, negative travel advice, because of position at work, travel to Curaçao is made impossible but also fear and travel shame cause people to postpone or cancel.
For March it seems to look a bit better, almost all accommodations indicate that they have bookings for March and April, there are many bookings from guests who have rebooked, unfortunately even these bookings are rebooked in some cases because the negative travel advice from the Netherlands has been extended until April 15th. Our members also think that it is not made easy for guests to travel to Curaçao and hope that code orange will soon be converted to code yellow.
We have been code yellow for Germany since 21 February.
It is important to know that almost all accommodation holders have lowered their prices compared to February 2020, price reductions of 25% are not uncommon.
Given the question on e.g. Social Media is a trend that does not seem to stop, potential guests want to go on holiday cheaply, rent a car cheaply and follow a diving course cheaply. It seems as if this is met by the many providers who respond to this, the tourist has it to sort out. A studio at Airbnb for only € 25.00 per night or less is no exception. When asked for accommodations for Naf 800 per month, which is converted to Naf 26 per night for 2 people, it seems quite normal that for this price there is a swimming pool, and the apartment is equipped with air conditioning!