TRAVEL TRENDS - February 2026 A STRONG START SIGNALS BENEATH THE HEADLINES

January began the year with strength and stability. Nearly 80,000 stayover visitors arrived, with growth distributed across Europe, North America and South America. Stayover nights expanded 12.9% YoY, outpacing the 8.3% increase in arrivals. This indicates that demand is expanding through longer occupancy rather than simply increased traveler

volume, reinforcing peak-season calendar depth rather than short-term arrival spikes. Canada posted meaningful

acceleration, South American arrivals expanded alongside improved direct connectivity and the Caribbean continued its modest softening. The overall pattern mirrors what we observed in Q3 and Q4 last year: not a single-market surge but broad and balanced reinforcement.

When growth is diversified and stays lengthen, volatility tends to ease. Fewer pronounced peaks reduce the pressure to discount during slower pockets and create

more predictable booking patterns over time.

Curaçao is increasingly behaving like a maturing destination rather than a reactive island market. For owners, that shift should change the strategic focus. Demand is present, measurable and increasingly predictable. The opportunity now lies in shaping calendars carefully, protecting rate integrity and aligning listings with the markets that are contributing most to growth in a competitive environment. February’s insights build on that foundation.

JANUARY DEMAND

January’s data adds depth to the broader stability outlined above. Average length of stay increased to 9.36 nights from 8.99 as arrivals approached 80,000. Growth was supported across Europe, North America and South America, with no single region distorting performance. European volume remained the anchor accounting for 36% of arrivals and a sizeable 52% of occupied nights, while incremental gains from North and South America added balance. The more important shift is compositional: demand is lengthening and spreading, not concentrating. That combination supports smoother occupancy patterns and steadier yield through peak season.

Signals and Actions for Owners

The Signal: January confirms that Curaçao is entering 2026 with layered demand rather than isolated spikes. With European stays averaging 13.31 nights compared to 4.89 nights from Caribbean markets, peak season inventory is increasingly being occupied by long-haul travelers who commit to extended booking lanes.

Nearly half of January’s stayover visitors selected alternative accommodations over resort hotels, reinforcing sustained demand for villas, apartments and boutique inventory during peak season. Alternative accommodations accounted for roughly 48% of arrivals but more than half of total occupied nights, reflecting the longer average stays associated with villa and apartment inventory during peak season. For villa and apartment owners, this indicates that non-resort inventory is capturing a disproportionate share of extended stays during peak season, increasing calendar occupancy without a corresponding rise in turnover frequency.

Why this matters:

When both arrivals and average nights increase during peak season, calendar behavior changes. Longer stays reduce mid-week gaps, compress turnover density and smooth

booking flow. This alters how pricing pressure appears. Instead of sharp occupancy swings, owners may experience slower but steadier absorption of available dates.

Additionally, the decline in Caribbean arrivals alongside growth from long-haul markets reinforces that Curaçao’s current momentum is being driven by committed travel

rather than proximity-based, short duration trips. This signals durability.

February strategy should focus on structure rather than reaction.

• Review minimum stay settings for March and April to ensure longer booking lanes remain available.

• Avoid filling prime contiguous blocks

  prematurely with short, discounted stays.

• Audit listing messaging to confirm it

  speaks clearly to long haul guests who prioritize livability and reliability.

• Evaluate mid-week pricing in late Q1.

• If occupancy remains orderly, resist unnecessary rate softening.

• This month is about protecting shape, not chasing pace.

Owner Takeaway:

January’s data suggests that Curaçao is benefiting from depth rather than volatility. Owners who maintain structured calendars, protect prime booking lanes and resist reactive pricing will be positioned to extract steadier yield through the remainder of peak

season. The opportunity in February is not acceleration, it’s control.