This is not an environmental argument, it is an economic opportunity for the government. The bird life and unique white-tailed deer are already in retreat from the urban zoning along the coast.
Curacao’s future is tied to the preservation and cultivation of ecotourism. From Mount Christoffel Park to the tip of Watamula is a special corridor that attracts a growing number of ecologically-minded travelers.
This is not an environmental argument, it is an economic opportunity for the government. The bird life and unique white-tailed deer are already in retreat from the urban zoning along the coast. Saving the pristine stretch of coastline along the tip of the island is a heritage for the next generation. Westpunt is a destination for a growing number of tourists that seek scuba and land-based activities that are not readily available in the more developed part of the island. Tour buses roll into the small diving stores each day to explore the untouched beauty of the rugged shoreline. The diverse fauna and flora along the coast is a backdrop to these scuba and snorkeling excursions. Without the beauty of the cliff line along Watamula, the attraction of this drift diving mecca will suffer.
Additionally, Kura Hulanda Lodge’s rejuvenation is dependent on preserving this destination as a unique and worthwhile trip northwest of the heavily zoned areas of the island. What differentiates Westpunt and serves as an attraction to a new breed of tourist is the opportunity of seeing the beautiful coral cliff line with Wara Wara and Whitetail Hawks sailing over the heights. If this area is rezoned, this natural beauty will disappear.
Aruba and other islands have traded their natural beauty for tourist zoning. Curacao stands out as a new differentiated destination. By preserving unique locations like Watamula, the government can be assured of decades of sustained tourist revenue.
