Visitors from the Netherlands formed the largest group, accounting for 47.4% of total arrivals, with 8,514 visitors. US visitors were the second-largest group, accounting for 26.9% of arrivals and 4,837 visitors.

A total of 1,316 (7.7%) visitors from Curaçao visited the island, followed by Canada with 951 (7.3%) visitors, Germany with 352 (2%) visitors, Belgium with 203 (1.1%) visitors, Aruba with 194 (1.1%) visitors, Brazil with 129 (0.7%) visitors, Switzerland with 128 (0.7%) visitors, UK with 121 (0.7%) visitors, and Colombia with 108 (0.6%) visitors.

US visitors mainly traveled with a partner, followed by alone. Most came for vacation (57.8%), diving (30.9%), and visiting friends and family (2.9%). The majority stayed at a hotel (51.4%), a villa (15.4%), an apartment (7.2%), their own property (6.3%), or with a relative (5.5%). US visitors primarily came from New York, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California. The age distribution showed that travelers aged 55-64 accounted for 27.2%, while those aged 65 and up accounted for 25.6% of visitors.

Dutch visitors were mainly those traveling with a partner, followed by solo travelers. Most visitors came for vacation (73.4%), visited friends and family (10%), and for business (4.7%). Most visitors stayed at a hotel (50.1%), followed by an apartment (16.3%), at a relative’s (10%), a villa (6%), and their own property (4.3%). Most Dutch visitors came from North Holland, South Holland, North Brabant, Gelderland, and Utrecht, with the 55-64 age group (22.8%) and the 45-54 age group (18.3%) being the largest segments.

For more details on Bonaire’s tourism performance, visit www.bonaireisland.com or contact us via email at info@bonaireisland.com.

By releasing timely, shareable videos and engaging the public to identify the flag bearer, the campaign generated millions of organic views and gained over 11,000 new followers in two days, all without paid advertising.

The initiative turned a brief viral moment into powerful global visibility for Bonaire through momentum marketing and community engagement.

On February 10, 2026, Tourism Corporation Bonaire (TCB) signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three of Bonaire’s top windsurf athletes, Amado Vrieswijk, Arxon Gomperts, and Tycho Smits, officially naming them Bonaire Local Ambassadors for 2026.

The initiative highlights TCB’s commitment to promoting local talent while reinforcing Bonaire’s global image as a leading windsurf and watersports destination while inspiring the island’s next generation.

With four booths attracting strong interest from travelers, media, and industry professionals, the delegation highlighted Bonaire’s nature-based and active travel experiences, as well as WestJet’s nonstop service to the island.

The event also featured a raffle for an all-inclusive stay at Van der Valk Plaza Resort with airfare, helping generate excitement and engagement. TCB emphasized the importance of in-market events to build authentic connections and support long-term growth in Canada.

As director of the Scott Haldane Foundation, JJ helped train physicians in diving medicine and expanded the program into an internationally recognized English-language course. Since 1995, he organized and taught 179 diving medicine courses worldwide, including 20 on Bonaire, educating doctors from many medical specialties.

His colleague Sylvia Dermout, a gynecologist and diving physician, joined him as a co-instructor in 1996; they later became partners and have been together for 30 years. The couple now owns a home on Bonaire.

JJ retired on January 1, 2026, at age 70. In recognition of his contributions to diving safety and his role in promoting Bonaire internationally, he was officially named a Bonaire Ambassador on March 6, 2026.