The Curaçao economy is mainly a tourism, trade and services economy. Most companies registered by the Chamber of Commerce are active in Wholesale and Retail Trade, Hospitality, Financial and Business Services, and Transportation & Communication.

Curaçao's capital, Willemstad, is more than quaint pastel-colored buildings. It is also a big, bustling port (and the largest dry dock in the region). Huge ships sail right through downtown. Cruise ships dock at the mega pier and tourist enjoy strolling and shopping along the waterfront in Punda and Otrabanda. A large part of the traffic revolves around the island's large oil refinery, which has helped Curaçao become one of the more prosperous islands in the Caribbean

In contrast to the relatively sluggish world economy, Curaçao continued along a gradual path with a rise in GDP by 2.9% in the June quarter of 2003.

The local currency is the Antillean guilder, pegged to the U.S. Dollar for more than three decades now at a fixed rate of 1-Antillean guilder and-80-cents to one U.S. dollar.

Inflation is traditionally low, always under five percent per year.

Average annual income is equivalent to U.S. $14,000 per year, reflecting a relatively high standard of living.

Most of the 52.000 active workers are employed in the consumer services sector, the hospitality sector, the financial and business services sector, and construction, manufacturing and oil industry.

Curaçao thrives on foreign exchange income from tourism, services and family transfers from Holland part of which finances a portion of imports. Curaçao imports about 90% of everything that's consumed on the island. As a result, Curaçao is one of the three largest importers of U.S. goods in the Caribbean.

Sources:
Bank of the Netherlands Antilles,
Central Bureau of Statistics,
Curaçao Tourism Development Foundation,
Curaçao Port Authority,
Curaçao Port Services,
Chamber of Commerce Curaçao.