Jonckheer and others say some Venezuelans buy merchandise in Curacao, where dollars are used widely, to sell or exchange back home on the black market. But he doubts it is the primary attraction for the visitors.

"Of course, they come for cash. I'm not going to deny it. But they come here to do a lot of shopping and other stuff. If it does happen, it's not the norm," he said.

Tourist Ruben Sermin denied cash is the attraction.

"This place is the best. It has lots of culture, lots of beaches," said Sermin, a 28-year-old accountant, as he and his girlfriend waited to board a half-hour flight back to Caracas after a four-day trip. "It's a small island, but there is a lot here."

The two countries have long had close links. Venezuelan tourism spiked to Curacao in the 1980s, then fell when the South American country's currency collapsed. And Venezuela's state-owned oil company runs Curacao's Isla oil refinery, the largest employer in Curacao.

The U.S. also has ties to the island of 140,000. For nearly 10 years, the U.S. has stationed military planes at the Willemstad airport for multinational counter-drug missions in the Caribbean. American officials say the operation contributes about $25 million to the local economy.

Nelson Pierre, a member of the 21-member governing council, thinks the U.S. military should no longer be allowed to use the airport to ensure good relations with Chavez, but he says only one other council member shares his opinion, and the lease is likely to be extended when it expires in 2011.

Curacao is expected to double the number of hotel rooms to 8,000 over the next two years, and local officials say they are poised for more growth. But they also know they must market to other countries.

"Venezuela is a market that can fall at any time," Jonckheer said.