Bonaire welcomed 13,387 overnight visitors in June 2026, according to preliminary data from the Tourism Corporation Bonaire. Visitor numbers declined slightly by 1.6% year-over-year. The most revealing information, however, lies in the travelers’ countries of origin: the Netherlands, the United States, and Curaçao together accounted for 85.5% of arrivals.
Bonaire's visitor numbers remain close to 2025 levels
In June 2026, the island welcomed 13,387 visitors, compared with 13,606 a year earlier. The difference amounts to 219 fewer arrivals. This variation remains limited, especially when viewed over a longer period: by June 2025, attendance had increased by 12,2 % compared to June 2024. The 2026 figure therefore reflects more of a stabilization following the sharp increase recorded the previous year. The 1.6% decline provides a useful point of comparison, while trends in the major markets offer a more accurate picture of visitor numbers.
Three markets bring 11,445 visitors to Bonaire
The Netherlands remains the top source country with 5,389 visitors, or 40.3% of the total. The United States follows with 4,163 arrivals, accounting for 31.1%. Curaçao ranks third with 1,893 visitors, or 14.1%. Combined, these three markets account for 11,445 people, or 85.5% of the visitors recorded in June. This percentage, calculated by Richès Karayib based on data published by TCB, reveals a high geographical concentration of visitor traffic.
However, this concentration has decreased slightly. In June 2025, those same three markets accounted for 11,904 of the 13,606 visitors, or approximately 87.5% of the total. Their combined share has thus declined by two percentage points in one year, leaving more room for visitors from other regions. This structure connects the island to three distinct regions: the Netherlands, its main European market; the United States, its leading North American market; and Curaçao, its Caribbean neighbor. Bonaire’s tourism industry is thus based on long-haul connections and clearly visible regional mobility.
The balance of power is shifting between the Netherlands and the United States
A comparison with June 2025 offers a different perspective. The number of Dutch visitors rose from 5,207 to 5,389, representing an increase of approximately 3,5 %. Their share of total arrivals rose from 38.7% to 40.3%. At the same time, the number of American visitors fell from 4,732 to 4,163, a decline of approximately 12 %. Their share fell from 34.8% to 31.1%. Curaçao remained relatively stable, with 1,893 visitors compared with 1,965 a year earlier.
The overall trend therefore masks differing trajectories. The Dutch market is growing, while the U.S. market is experiencing a more pronounced decline. The available data do not specify the causes. The coming months will reveal whether this is a lasting trend or a one-time deviation.
In Bonaire, two markets are having very different experiences
Scuba diving is a major draw for American travelers
Among American visitors, 48.5% say they are visiting for vacation, and 40.3% for scuba diving. The close relationship between these two motivations underscores the special role that underwater activities play in the island’s appeal to this demographic. Their choice of accommodations is also highly concentrated: 58.6% choose hotels, followed by villas at 11.6%. The main U.S. states of origin are Florida, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina.
The Dutch are diversifying their vacations even further
Among Dutch travelers, vacations clearly dominate, accounting for 70 percent. Visits to family or friends account for 10.4%, while business trips account for 6.8%. Hotels remain the top choice, at 51.3%, but apartments account for 13% and staying with a relative accounts for 11%. These proportions reflect a more diverse use of the island, ranging from traditional tourism to personal visits and business travel.
Curaçao Maintains the Regional Focus of Tourism in Bonaire
With 14.1% of arrivals, Curaçao adds a regional dimension to visitor numbers that are largely driven by Europe and North America. Travel within the Dutch-speaking Caribbean accounts for a significant portion of the total, although TCB does not provide details on the motivations of these travelers. For Bonaire, the June data thus provide a more comprehensive picture than a simple monthly total. They show a destination driven by three markets, but visited for different reasons. The results for July and the following months will help determine whether this concentration—as well as the decline in American visitors—persists.
Bonaire welcomed 13,387 overnight visitors in June 2026, according to preliminary figures released by the Bonaire Tourism Corporation. This represents a 1.6% decrease from the 13,606 visitors recorded in June 2025.
The Netherlands is the leading market with 5,389 visitors, followed by the United States with 4,163 visitors and Curaçao with 1,893 visitors. Together, these three markets account for approximately 85.5% of arrivals in June 2026.
Vacation is their primary motivation, accounting for 48.5% of responses. Scuba diving comes in a close second at 40.3%, confirming its particular importance in Bonaire’s appeal to the U.S. market.
