WILLEMSTAD – More than 750 visitors and 25 companies came together on Saturday for the annual CHATA Job Fair, held at Sambil Shopping Mall, according to a statement from the Curaçao Hospitality and Tourism Association (CHATA). 

The job fair is part of a joint effort to tackle the growing labor shortage in Curaçao’s hospitality and tourism industry. The local chapter of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland (Royal Dutch Hospitality Association) previously raised concerns, estimating that around 10,000 new hospitality workers will be needed in the coming years to meet rising demand. 

CHATA has also projected that by 2026, at least 2,000 additional employees will be required in the sector—a number that could grow to 4,000 by 2027. 

With a wide range of participating companies, educational institutions, and government agencies, the event served not only as a platform for connecting employers with job seekers, but also as an effective initiative to raise awareness of open positions and begin filling the critical vacancies facing the sector. 

CHATA hailed the job fair as a success and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting workforce development and strengthening the island’s economic future through tourism.