Publication: Bonaire Sustainable Urban
Development Carrying Capacity Study
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2024-08-29
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2024-08-29
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In the wake of COVID-19, tourism on Bonaire is showing signs of rapid and near-complete recovery. At the same time, the population has continued to grow significantly. In 2019 and 2020 this growth was driven primarily by net immigration into Bonaire from other islands in the Dutch Caribbean, Central and South America, and European Netherlands. Bonaire’s economy is heavily concentrated on tourism and, in recent years, has experienced a steady increase in foreign direct investment (FDI), mainly in real estate. As in other Caribbean islands, the tourism-based economy has generated a flourishing real estate market, and demand after the pandemic has accelerated. The World Bank, through the European Union (EU)-funded Disaster Risk Financing Technical Assistance (DRFTA) for Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), will work closely with Bonaire’s government to assess the island’s carrying capacity in light of the rapid growth in tourism, population, and real estate development. Will do this by developing a study assessing the island’s carrying capacity as a function of its environment, economic activity, culture, social structure, infrastructure, land use, and climate resilience. The main objective is to assess Bonaire’s carrying capacity to develop tourism and manage development, by providing an analytical tool to determine growth scenarios and simulate impacts. The study will give the Executive Council of Bonaire the information and tools to inform a growth strategy for mobilizing the island’s institutional, financial, and technical resources.
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“World Bank. 2024. Bonaire Sustainable Urban
Development Carrying Capacity Study. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/42109 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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