The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten published its December 2025 Economic Bulletin, warning that the monetary union’s economic expansion is being supported by tourism but remains vulnerable to external shocks. The central bank called for vulnerabilities and structural challenges to be addressed to reinforce resilience entering 2026. The bulletin highlights the sensitivity of Curaçao and Sint Maarten as small, open, import-dependent economies to shifts in global demand, commodity prices and climate-related disruptions, and notes that rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and Venezuela, could raise transport and insurance costs, weaken investor confidence and harm tourism. It urges stronger fiscal frameworks through buffer-building and debt sustainability, supported by realistic revenue projections, multi-year expenditure ceilings and clearer prioritisation of resilient infrastructure, and calls for improved execution of multi-annual public investment programmes to avoid delaying private investment. Recommendations also include reforms to secure the long-term sustainability of health care and social insurance systems and steps to diversify regional economic ties, including exploring a partial scope trade agreement with Trinidad and Tobago to broaden Curaçao’s export base.
Central Bank of Sint Maarten & Curacao 2025-12-16
Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten warns tourism-led growth remains exposed to external shocks and urges fiscal buffers and structural reforms
The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten's December 2025 Economic Bulletin warns that while tourism supports economic expansion, the monetary union remains vulnerable to external shocks. It highlights sensitivity to global demand shifts, commodity prices, and climate disruptions, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. The bulletin calls for stronger fiscal frameworks, improved public investment execution, and diversification of economic ties, including a potential trade agreement with Trinidad and Tobago.