KRALENDIJK – In the final days of 2025, Bonaire once again experienced a heavy influx of cruise tourists. On several occasions, two large cruise ships docked simultaneously, resulting in traffic congestion and growing complaints about the overall experience for both visitors and local residents.
The situation has raised renewed questions about the cruise tourism policy pursued by the Public Entity Bonaire (OLB). Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis, then Commissioner for Economy and Tourism Hennyson Thielman (MPB) introduced a policy framework that, in principle, limited cruise arrivals to one ship per day. This approach formed part of the Tourism Recovery Plan, which aimed to steer Bonaire toward a smaller-scale, higher-quality tourism model.
Following the installation of the current governing coalition, Commissioner Clark Abraham—then responsible, among other matters, for port affairs—indicated that he did not fully support this approach. According to Abraham, policy should focus less on the number of ships and more on the total number of passengers. “Two smaller cruise ships can carry fewer passengers than one large vessel,” he previously stated during a meeting with industry stakeholders. He also called for research into the island’s so-called carrying capacity: the maximum number of visitors Bonaire can accommodate without causing lasting harm to its natural environment, infrastructure, liveability, or the experience of residents and tourists.
To date, however, no such study has been made public, even as the number of cruise passengers on certain days continues to be perceived as particularly high.
Executive Council
ABC Online Media submitted questions on the current cruise tourism policy on Tuesday to Commissioner Anthony Weber (Economy & Tourism, M21), Commissioner Clark Abraham (Infrastructure and Port Affairs, PDB), and Harbour Master Gunther Flanegin.
Commissioner Weber responded promptly but indicated that he was unable to provide a substantive response without consulting his civil servants. “They will not be back at work until January 5,” Weber said. Commissioner Abraham had not responded by the time of publication.
More nuanced
Harbour Master Gunther Flanegin did respond swiftly, offering a more nuanced perspective. According to Flanegin, the Executive Council is still working on refining its cruise tourism policy, although final decisions have yet to be taken. This includes efforts to improve planning and scheduling of cruise visits in order to better manage their impact.
Flanegin also emphasized that there is no evidence of uncontrolled growth in cruise tourism. On the contrary, he pointed to a slight downward trend in recent years. While Bonaire welcomed approximately 426,000 cruise passengers in 2024, he expects the total for 2025 to come in at around 387,000—a decline of just over nine percent. Projections for 2026 suggest a further decrease to roughly 350,000 cruise visitors.
In cooperation with Aruba and Curaçao, Bonaire is also working on a plan to better distribute cruise arrivals throughout the year. The aim is to reduce the number of visits during the peak season from December to April, while increasing arrivals during the traditionally quieter months.
Limited communication
Despite these explanations, it remains unclear what specific cruise tourism policy the Executive Council is currently pursuing and at what stage potential policy adjustments stand. To date, there has been limited proactive communication with the public on these issues.
ABC Online Media also approached former Commissioner Thielman, now parliamentary leader of the MPB, for comment on the current cruise tourism situation. No response had been received from him at the time of publication.
