The Dutch Caribbean has also been hit hard by the consequences of the corona crisis. Tourism on these tropical islands has fallen to its lowest point last year. The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reports that the number of tourists that flew to Saba last year was 67 percent lower than the year before in 2019. The number of tourists that flew to St. Eustatius last year was 69 percent lower than the number in 2019. The number of tourists that came to Bonaire by plane last year was 58 percent less compared to 2019. 

66.000 tourists came to Bonaire last year, compared to almost 2019 tourists in 158.000. In the months of January and February last year, many tourists still flew to Bonaire. In January and February last year even 6,7 percent more tourists came to Bonaire than in the same months in 2019. In January and February 2020 not much was known about the corona virus, which was different a month later.

In March last year, the airspaces of Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius were closed due to the advancing corona virus for incoming passengers from Europe and high-risk countries. In July and August there was another revival of tourists on Bonaire due to the relaxation of the corona measures. Also on St. Eustatius there were still many tourists in January and February last year, the numbers were comparable to January and February 2019. From March onwards, the numbers fell sharply. 

The number of tourists arriving on St Eustatius by plane over the whole of last year was 69 percent less than in 2019. In 2020, 3,3 thousand tourists arrived and in 2019 there were 10,5 thousand. A similar number arrived on the Island of Saba in January and February last year tourists As in January and February 2019. Over the whole year, last year there was a 67 percent decrease in the number of tourists arriving by plane on Saba compared to 2019. It remains to be seen what tourism will do this year, for the time being tourism will not yet get going. Worldwide, various countries are still in a lockdown and many countries are still locked. It is hope for better times.

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