Business View Caribbean, July/August 2018

96 97 we see a value connected to it, that’s where the Association also partici- pates.Overall,we try to visit at least onemajor conference or trade show within each countryof focus,per year.” Historically, the majority of visi- tors to Curaçao have come from the Netherlands.“This has to do with our natural ties to Holland,”Mercera explains.“For a Dutch traveler, it’s basically a second home; it’s the same language, and it’s easy for them to visit here.You have flights three times a day direct fromAm- sterdam to Curaçao,which makes it very convenient to visit the island. In the past, the second largest market used to be Venezuela, but due to the economic situation in Venezuela,we have seen a strong decline in the past two years.The U.S. is now the second largest, following the Dutch market.And we have other markets: Germany, Colombia, Brazil, and Cana- da,which is growing steadily.” Mercera admits that even though tourism contributes nearly 18 per- cent to the island’s total economy, there are still many challenges facing the industry.“We understand that for a first-time Caribbean trav- eler, Curaçao is not a top-of-mind destination, so it’s a challenge to educate and inform the international consumer into why Curaçao should be on their list. Another challenge is convincing THE CURAÇAO HOSPITALITY AND TOURISMASSOCIATION