Diario: ATA’s duty is to Publish the Tourism Numbers

Diario: December 29, 2005

According to Otmar Oduber
ATA’s duty is to publish the tourism numbers
It has been more than 6 months since they’ve done this

All this going on while it had been stated in the past that Aruban tourism was up 7%. Members of the Aruban Strategic Communications Task Force and Steve Cohen have been touting the tourism numbers as having increased, yet it appears that may not be the case at all. Not even close. Otmar Oduber, from the AVP faction has basically demanded that the numbers be disclosed so that they know the truth. He stated, “the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), for the last 6 months hasn’t published tourism numbers”. Interestingly enough the same period of time that Natalee Holloway has been missing. During that time they have stated that tourism was up. However, recently Peter Steinmetz, director of Aruba Airport Authority (AAA) made the comment that on the decrease in passengers.

The decreasing number of passengers is according to Peter Steinmetz, director of Aruba Airport Authority (AAA), a direct consequence of disappeared American teenager Natalee Holloway.

It appears that some in Aruba want to hear the real numbers no matter how bad they may be. According to Otmar Odeber the tourism numbers have been down as well with cruise ships.

The parliamentarian also said that Aruba received 42,000 less tourists from cruise ships in 2005, compared with 2004.

The translated article: Hat Tip: Getagrip

ORANJESTAD(AAN): Otmar Oduber, from the AVP faction, signaled during a press conference of the green party, that it is very troublesome and reproachable that the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), for the last 6 months hasn’t published tourism numbers.

He explained that this is something very irresponsible.

Oduber also said that he saw on NBC that they reported that Aruba was in the 10 news stories with the most impact of 2005, while the case of Natalee Holloway is the number 1 unresolved case.

According to Oduber, they also said that tourism has declined by a certain percentage, which is something that ATA has to give information about. The parliamentarian also said that Aruba received 42,000 less tourists from cruise ships in 2005, compared with 2004.

If one multiplies this by the average amount of money that they would have spent in Aruba, which is $112, Aruba potentially lost more than 4 million dollars.

Oduber also indicated that there were 4.2% less travelers who passed through our airport, which could turn into 10%, which is an alarming effect that cannot continue.