Almost ten years after the tourism master plan: did Bonaire grow the way it wanted to grow?

KRALENDIJK - Almost ten years ago, the Strategic Tourism Master Plan (STMP) 2017–2027 for Bonaire was drawn up. The plan was intended to guide the development of tourism, with the focus not only on growth, but above all on quality, economic value, and the preservation of nature and liveability.

As the plan’s end date approaches, it is becoming increasingly possible to assess how reality compares to the expectations of the time. At the same time, new concerns have emerged within the tourism sector about market developments in 2026.

Expectations for stay-over and cruise tourism

When the master plan was drafted, Bonaire received approximately 140,000 stay-over visitors per year. The STMP projected a gradual increase to 200,000 stay-over visitors by 2027.

That number was nearly reached by the end of 2025. According to preliminary figures, Bonaire received approximately 199,000 stay-over visitors last year. In terms of numbers, the main growth target of the master plan appears to have been almost fully achieved.

For cruise tourism, the STMP painted a different picture. In 2016, Bonaire received approximately 217,000 cruise passengers, and the expectation was that this number would remain around 200,000 per year. By the end of 2025, however, preliminary CBS figures put the total at approximately 398,600 cruise passengers — nearly double the level the master plan had anticipated.

BONHATA calls attention to economic value

The comparison is made all the more relevant by the statement issued by the Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association on 23 July. BONHATA argues that visitor arrival numbers alone do not adequately reflect the actual development of the tourism economy.

The industry association points to lower hotel occupancy rates, declining revenue per available hotel room, a decrease in American visitors, and lagging bookings for the remainder of 2026. According to BONHATA, attention must therefore be paid not only to how many visitors Bonaire receives, but also to their spending, length of stay, country of origin, accommodation choice, and their ultimate contribution to the island’s economy.

This is an analysis and a warning from within the tourism sector. Visitor numbers themselves do not show a decline on all fronts. It is precisely this contrast that makes the discussion relevant: can tourism grow in terms of numbers while economic returns for parts of the sector come under pressure?

ABC Online Media revisits the Master Plan

Over the coming days, Bonaire.nu will therefore take a fresh look at the Strategic Tourism Master Plan. What was recommended almost ten years ago? Which targets have been met? Which aspects have developed differently than foreseen? And what does that mean for tourism policy after 2027?

Separate articles will cover stay-over tourism, cruises, hotels and vacation rentals, air connections, key source markets, and the economic significance of tourism.

The key question is not only whether Bonaire has attracted more tourists, but whether tourism has developed in the way the island envisioned for itself back in 2017.