Diario: Dutch group knows how to counteract the negative effect in the U.S. of the case of Natalee Holloway

Diario; January 6, 2006

Segun Jorge Pesquera di AHATA: GRUPO HULANDES SA CON PA CONTRARESTA E EFECTO NEGATIVO DI E CASO NATALEE HOLLOWAY NA MERCA

According to Jorge Pesquera of AHATA: Dutch group knows how to counteract the negative effect in the U.S. of the case of Natalee Holloway

Seven months later, the Aruban tourism in an obvious down cycle as a result of the Natalee Holloway investigation and members of the Tourism Agencies come out with these gems.

He indicated that there are people working at NBTC who know to deal with clients at a very sophisticated level. He continued to say that to be able to counteract the opinions that certain Americans have of Aruba due to the case of Natalee, a sophisticated level of how the style of sale will take place is required and that NBTC has this.

“This is something that has to be explained and has to be done with logic, with information and with the conviction that we have the truth on our side”, he said

The problem is, you don’t. There is no amount of spin in the world that is going to explain away not only the first 48 hours of this case, but the first ten days as well. The fact that three suspects were allowed to wonder around. Suspects that even the ALE has stated have responsibility in Natalee’s disappearance.

One more time … Americans are not upset with Aruba that Natalee Holloway went missing. People go missing all the time unfortunately. They are upset with Aruba as to what happened after she went missing. The problem gets further exacerbated by then insulting people’s intelligence.

Want to go a long way in helping restore Aruba’s tourism? If you say you are going to do something like interview the three suspects in 10 day, DO IT! It is the trust that was been broken as to why many are skeptical. No amount of talk will ever bring that back. Talk is all Americans have heard with not much action.

Solve this crime and your tourism issue will take care of itself.

The translated Diaro article:

ORANJESTAD (AAN): During a meeting which took place Thursday afternoon at the Renaissance Convention Center between the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) and their partners, related to the presentation of their 2006 Business Plan, the impact that the case of Natalee Holloway has in the US was remarked upon.

DIARIO asked Mr. Jorge Pesquera, CEO of AHATA, how the Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions (NBTC), AHATA’s new partner in what relates to the promotion of Aruba in the US, will focus their plan of action in what terms of this case.

He indicated that there are people working at NBTC who know to deal with clients at a very sophisticated level. He continued to say that to be able to counteract the opinions that certain Americans have of Aruba due to the case of Natalee, a sophisticated level of how the style of sale will take place is required and that NBTC has this.
(Full translation)