The Bonaire New Visitor Tax

Earlier in 2022, the government of the Island of Bonaire established a new tourism tax – BonaireTax. The tax replaced the existing until July 1, 2022, accommodation and car rental taxes.

The new tax is applicable to foreign travelers visiting the Island on tourism and leisure, business and education, sport and culture. Visitors to Bonaire are required to pay their BonaireTax upon arrival at the Flamingo International Airport at latest. In order to avoid queuing in front of the airport kiosques though, tourists are highly advised to pay and obtain their BonaireTax online in advance.

What is the new BonaireTax?

The new BonaireTax is a state single-entry visitors’ tax that has to be obtained before entering the Island.

It replaces two other taxes – the accommodation or room tax and the car rental tax which tourists had to pay to the service providers directly until recently. BonaireTax is obligatory for the foreigners visiting the Island. The funds are allocated to the local infrastructure and business which in most of its part is linked to the tourism sector.

Who must pay the new visitors tax?

BonaireTax is required from foreign tourists visiting the Island for purposes of:

• tourism, including wedding and honeymoon trips
• business and education
• friends and family visits
• cultural and sports events

When pay the new tourism tax?

The Visitor Tax can be paid upon arrival at the kiosques at the Flamingo International Airport.

However, due to the increased flow of travelers to the tiny island of Bonaire, the state authorities advise paying it in advance.

How to pay my Bonaire Visitor Tax in advance?

You can pay your Bonaire visitor tax at the TourismTaxBonaire.us’ application platform. Easy and fast, the process of completing the form and paying it through the secure platform takes no more than five minutes.

What are questions on the application form?

The information required on the BonaireTax form are:

• mandatory: names and email, country of residence, date of arrival and date of departure
• optional: point of contact and address to Bonaire, reason to visit the Island, type of accommodation

What if I have troubles filling in the form?

If you meet difficulties in completing the form or you need additional information on the application process, or anything related to the BonaireTax, do not worry! Our dedicated Customer Support Team is here to help 24/7.

Just write us using the contact form on our website and we will reply to the provided through the form email.

What if I have made a mistake while completing the form?

Our agents are trained to spot irregularities and potentially wrong information. If such is present on your form, we will immediately write to the email you have provided on your application form.

If you are concerned your BonaireTax application may contain wrong or mistaken information, contact us as soon as possible. We will revise your application and edit, if possible, the needed data.

When and how will I get my BonaireTax?

After successfully completing and paying your BonaireTax, our team will contact you by email with on the of the following:

• Email with QR code holding your payment confirmation
• A request to send additional information in case data the one on your application form is not accepted by the Bonaire authorities

 

We highly recommend printing a copy of your Bonaire Visitor Tax QR code and keeping it among the travel documents. This way, you won’t lose time queuing at the airport and will have the Document handy when you are asked for it. Of course, you can keep an online copy of it to your mobile device.

The Island of Bonaire

Bonaire is a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea. It is located North of the Venezuela’s shores, next to Curaçao and Aruba.

Up to 2010, Bonaire was part of the Netherlands Antilles. Now, it is a special municipality under the tutelage of the Netherlands. Together with Sint Eustatius and Saba, the three islands are known as the Netherlands Caribbean.

Despite the fact that other islands in the region are way more famous tourist destinations, the number of visitors to Bonaire keeps increasing. It’s colonial Dutch architecture with bright colored houses as well as the artists’ goods sold next to fish, food, and local spices on the street markets gives the Island the romantic atmosphere that attracts more and more visitors.

Tourists come mainly from Europe and North America. Visitors having family and friends from neighboring Aruba and Curaçao make also significant part of the tourists to the Island.

Once in Bonaire, here is what you can do

The Island of Bonaire is perfect for:

• • Weddings and honeymoon trips: its calm and idyllic atmosphere, the lack of crowds of tourists, and the luxury resorts with private beaches and a beautiful view on the Caribbean Sea make the Island perfect for such romantic events.
• • Diving lessons: during the years Bonaire has gained the name of the Best Caribbean Diving Destination due to its calm waters. The shore offers both deep and shallow waters.
• • Underwater life recording: also very popular due to the minimum impact of cruise ships on the environment and the lack of ocean currents which keep alive the coral reefs and attract other sea creatures like sea horses, turtles, filefish, and many more.
• • Festivals: despite it’s small size – only 288 km2 (111 sq ml), Bonaire is home to various cultures which celebrate their diversity through numerous festivals. Apart from the annual folk Simadan festival held every April and the week-lasting Bonaire Carnival happening in late February – early March, a jazz festival, a diving festival, and a regatta also attract visitors from abroad.
• • Chilling with the flamingos: some say Bonaire has more flamingos than people and they are absolutely right. Pink, tall, moving in groups, the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary is where these birds come to breed from January till June.
• • Resorts: elegant, luxurious, with architecture that varies from cozy bamboo villas to colonial houses, and classic hotel, Bonaire resorts offer various activities like off road driving, sea diving, wind surfing, among many more.

Summary

Bonaire is a small, romantic island in the Caribbean Sea. Part of the Lesser Antilles the island is a municipality under the Netherlands administrative structure meaning its government owns relative independence. Due to the people migrations over the years, Bonaire is home of different cultures. It is also home to a vast number of animals and sea creatures.

To keep the Island and the environment safe and unchanged, local authorities allow only one cruise ship to dock on its port. In an effort to attract more tourists, the authorities established BonaireTax – a single visitors tax, the funds from which are allocated to the local business, education, infrastructure, and culture.

So, if you are planning to visit Bonaire, pay the new visitor tax and get your unique QR Code.