The Hotel occupancy rates for Curacao Highest Level in Years, Not so for Aruba … We wonder why?

As the occupancy rates in Curacao are at their highest levels in years, Aruba finds itself in a continual pattern of decline. Since Natalee Holloway went missing and the subsequent disaster of what was called an investigation into her disappearance, Aruba has suffered disastrous tourism numbers. While the rest of the Caribbean is up, Aruba finds itself mired in its own mess. One might say that the rest of the Caribbean may be benefiting from Aruba’s loss. So why is it a sister Island like Curacao has success and Aruba does not? I do not think it takes a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

Not only are the occupancy rates higher than in recent years, but the average room price is higher. How much higher the prices are, was not made available. 

To this point 2006 has been a super year in terms of occupancy rates. January started off well with a rate of 86.45 percent, followed by the top-month of February with an average occupancy rate of almost 90 percent (89.9 percent, to be precise). With a rate of 88.2 percent, March was also exceptionally good. April, May, June, and July respectively had occupancy rates of 81.5, 79.5, 72.9, and 75.6 percent. 

(ABC Islands)

We had warned from the outset when Natalee Holloway went missing that this would not be good for tourism. The manner in how Aruba conducted the investigation only added to their demise. The perception of safety and a tourist island doing the right thing is in the eye of the beholder, not a spin or marketing campaign.  As others in the Caribbean have seen increases, Aruba continues on the downward spiral. The 4th quarter of 2005 saw a 7.4% decrease in passengers to the Queen Beatrix Airport. The Central Bank of Aruba also reported a 14.7% decrease in airport passengers in the 1st quarter of 2006.  

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Aruba Cannot Accurately Report Crimes Either, ” claims that the number of crimes has actually risen recently”

Some have disputed whether Aruba has properly reported their tourism numbers, now some are questioning whether crime in Aruba is being properly reported. Who is questioning the crime reports? The American International media? The Blogs? No, its the Aruban Police Union.

This past week there were discussions regarding the registering of crimes and violations in connection with the advertised drop in criminality, an advertisement based on statistics supplied by the OM. The police union disputed these figures, claiming that the number of crimes has actually risen recently.  

In an effort to misrepresent the level of crime in Aruba, advertisements were taken out in certain papers. Anything to promote a positive image to save tourism. Actually, it is rather unbelievable that an island that bases its economy on tourism and the interaction with visitors to its island has no “uniform system to register crimes and violations.” Everything in Aruba and how its handled just appears to be an accident waiting to happen. It is as if there are no polices and procedures to handle any of the normal activities in government, business and life that so many of us take for granted.

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Aruban Education System, WOW …You think this may be an Issue?

From Amigoe, September 27, 2006 … this is an eye opener. This is almost criminal. How do these kids ever get a chance? If our children are our future, what does this say?

50 Percent of six-graders too old 

ARUBA – 50 Percent of all the six-graders is too old, says MPA- leader Monica Kock.  She bases this on the figures of the Education department.  Chances are that these students become drop outs or will start working, because due to their age, they can no longer be admitted on secondary schools. 

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Aruban Budget Cuts Affect Building Requirements at KIA … Think the Natalee Holloway legacy is not Affecting Aruba?

Arubans, think your financial woes are not a result of a post Natalee Holloway world? You better think again. Your government officials can point to every excuse under the sun; however, all of your problems began on May 29, 2005 … “This Can’t Be Good For Tourism, Where’s Natalee Holloway”. There comes a point and time where people must stand up and demand answers. This situation is not going away. All the predictions that it would have been miserably wrong.

It first begins with a horrible injustice done to a tourist visiting Aruba and her family. Then it continues with tourists not visiting Aruba upset at the matter. It further continues with even more tourists not going to Aruba as they are outraged by the manner in how an investigation was done and how a family was treated. As tourism declines, so to does the money spent in Aruba and in turn the tax revenues generated decline to the government. The government budgets for social programs to Arubans are cut as are projects in Aruba.

As tourism dwindles, Arubans are laid off and those businesses that have always depended on tourism suffer. The government has to raise money to maintain their lofty budgets tax the people. As they tax more and more, they also cut projects and look the other way and things that are typically referred to as requirements.

Thus is the case in Aruba where the KIA is the latest to feel the hit from the lack of revenue coming into Aruba.

ARUBA – With the expansion of the KIA and in consideration of the costs, the government has decided not to comply with the building requirements.  The new wards for young prisoners and women do not have an emergency exit.  That became clear at the budget negotiations of the ministry of Justice.

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Aruba: Prime Minister Nelson Oduber “We live from tourism” … Then act like it

Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber continues to live in a world of denial. Is it the police thats under pressure, or MEP? By the way Oduber, 9–11 is not the reason why your tourism hit the skids. Stop fooling yourself and stop lying to your people. Your horrendous tourism decline is pinpointed to one single event, the purposefully botched investigation of Natalee Holloway to protect your own. If you care so much about your precious tourism, then bring justice in this case. Without it your tourism will suffer for decades to come.

“We live from tourism.  Since the terrorist attacks in the United States, all sorts of international measures were announced and we have to comply with those.  We would like to interpret these well, so that the tourism do not experience unfavourable effects of these.”

If you want cooperation, then get the Dutch police into Aruba ASAP and give them full and complete rein on the Natalee Holloway investigation. They best have the ability to re-interview, re-question and look at this case from day one to the present. You have all the information that is needed, now all you have to do is act on it in a manner that isn’t cronyism.

Amigoe: September 21, 2006 “Aruba police under pressure”  (full article below)

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