Bonaire’s Big Travel Summer Continues

With its turquoise waters, legendary dive sites and easygoing Dutch Caribbean vibe, Bonaire has become one of the region’s fastest-growing escapes, with a tourism renaissance for most of the last three years.

That demand showed no signs of slowing in Aug. 2025, when the island welcomed 14,435 stayover visitors — a 15.6 percent increase over Aug. 2024 (12,483), according to preliminary data shared by Tourism Corporation Bonaire.

The Netherlands remained the island’s largest source market, accounting for 42.9 percent of total arrivals with 6,192 visitors. The United States was the second-largest market, representing 30.9 percent of traffic with 4,459 visitors. Curaçao followed with 1,856 visitors (12.9 percent), while Germany (285), Aruba (221), Belgium (187), Colombia (131), Canada (117), Brazil (85), Italy (76) and the United Kingdom (74) rounded out the leading markets.

In the U.S. segment, most travelers arrived with a partner, followed by solo travelers. Vacation was the primary trip purpose (48.3 percent), with diving close behind (39 percent). Hotels captured the majority of U.S. stays (56.8 percent), followed by villas (11.4 percent), apartments (6.5 percent), stays at visitors’ own property (6.2 percent) and with relatives (3.1 percent). The top states of origin were New York, Florida, California, Texas and Pennsylvania. By age, visitors 55–64 comprised 20.9 percent, and those 45–54 made up 20.7 percent.

Dutch travelers were most commonly accompanied by children, with solo travelers next. Vacation dominated trip purpose (71.4 percent), with visiting friends and relatives at 8.2 percent. Hotels led lodging choices (49.3 percent), followed by apartments (15.5 percent), stays with relatives (9.2 percent), villas (7.2 percent) and visitors’ own property (4.2 percent). The largest provincial sources were South Holland, North Holland, Gelderland, Utrecht and North Brabant. The biggest age cohorts were 45–54 (19.4 percent) and 18–24 (16.3 percent).

Tourism Corporation Bonaire said the August figures are preliminary and reflect continued demand from both the European and North American markets.

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