Amigoe Aruba: Development tourism calls for action (Denial, Aruba still just doesn’t get it)

Lee indicated that the tourism in Aruba is the best indicator for economic growth, since the economy relies on the tourist sector. The number of visitors to Aruba had dropped since August of 2005, compared to the year before. In February and March of this year, the number of stay over tourists dropped with respectively 11.1 and 18.2 percent, compared with same months last year. Also the room occupancy in the hotels continues to drop and also the spending done by tourists during their vacation.

Aruba wishes to change this trend but they refuse to accept the reason why the decline in tourism exists in the first place. Since August 2005 tourism has declines in Aruba. What event took place Aruba on your island for this to occur?

No other place in the Caribbean is experiencing a decline in tourism.In fact other Caribbean islands are up drastically, like Jamaica. We warned Arubans and the media that it would take time for a noticeable decline in tourism to take place.However, once it happened it would be drastic and almost irreversible.

“A consistent decrease in the export of tourism will lead to a decline of our economic situation in 2006. So, it’s time to take actions. Our challenge is now to proof that we can reverse this trend. The problems with the tourism are attributed to the economic- and tourist policy pursued in the past years.

It does not seem to matter which party discusses the issue of the decline of tourism in Aruba … they all get it wrong. Aruba, you actually think that your double digit decline is a result of “tourist policies” in the past years? Get your head out of the sand and admit your guilt. Unless one considers the incompetence and willingness of a cover-up in the disappearance of an American teenager girl, Natalee Holloway, a tourist policy. If not, you have no idea what you are talking about.

One event happened on Aruba and not in the rest of the Caribbean. That is the reason why your tourism is a disaster. The continual denial, cover up and mishandling of the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. Nothing more, nothing less. To continually refuse to state the obvious only makes more and more Americans unwilling to travel to Aruba Why should they, if this is the precedent you have set if they go missing in Aruba.

At some point Aruban officials will get a clue. If not, they will continue to see disastrous tourism numbers and in turn see their economy reach all time lows. Denial is such a terrible thing. People are never willing to forgive if their is no honest contrition. However, after 13 months it is obvious to many that there is none thus no individuals have decided to repay Aruba’s actions by making the conscious choice to avoid it at all cost.

Aruba … your tourism problem is linked to one issue as much as you want to spin and BS your own people. That issue is Natalee Holloway. Solve the case, do the right thing, bring those responsible to justice. Maybe, just maybe after 13 months if you do that people might consider coming to Aruba. If not, they will never venture the thought.

Full Amigoe article:

Amigoe, July 15, 2006 Development tourism calls for action

ARUBA – Andy Lee, commissioner for opposition party AVP and member of the permanent Parliamentary Committee for Tourism is of the opinion that the developments in the tourism are alarming and that it is time to reverse this negative development. Lee indicated that the tourism in Aruba is the best indicator for economic growth, since the economy relies on the tourist sector. The number of visitors to Aruba had dropped since August of 2005, compared to the year before. In February and March of this year, the number of stay over tourists dropped with respectively 11.1 and 18.2 percent, compared with same months last year. Also the room occupancy in the hotels continues to drop and also the spending done by tourists during their vacation. It seems like this tendency is continuing and the developments that the airport noted, confirm this.“A consistent decrease in the export of tourism will lead to a decline of our economic situation in 2006. So, it’s time to take actions. Our challenge is now to proof that we can reverse this trend. The problems with the tourism are attributed to the economic- and tourist policy pursued in the past years. The economic return has to be realized by the growth of the number of tourists that spend less, or by fewer tourists that will spend more. The economic- and tourist policy has to aim for this development and this way realize more revenue from the tourism”, said Lee. Lee is of the opinion that the current trend is a clear signal to the minister of Tourism, to buckle down and work on the promotion of Aruba. He says that MEP must accept the responsibility and must support the necessary changes in the 2006 budget. This is the only way the economic interests of Aruba can be protected and guaranteed.