Aruban Tourism … Different Month … Same Results … Tourism Down Again for 2006 … When will it End?

Try as they might, Aruba has spent millions on tourism marketing, lowered rates, and provided other incentives to have tourists come to Aruba. All to no avail, its just not working. The Central Bank of Aruba is reporting that tourism is at best stagnant and at worst, still in decline for October and November, 2006.

Aruba’s efforts are not working because they are attempting to put a Band-Aid on a broken leg. They refuse to deal with the underlying issue. Until they do, Aruba can expect for increases of 0.9 and decreases of 5 to 6% per month. Aruba may never learn; however, eventually they are going to have to do something.

Watch the Video of Aruban Tourism.

The number of sojourns and their number of nights spent dropped with respectively 7.7 and 5.7 percent in the first 10 months of 2006, while the numbers for September of that same year increased with respectively 0.9 and 0.1 percent, and dropped in October with respectively 3.1 and 4.4 percent.

Compare the tourism rates over the past 2 years since Natalee Holloway has gone missing and Aruba officials took part in a concerted effort to obstruct an investigation. See if an increase of 0.9% means anything after the losses that have already been experienced.

(Vanderbilt – ‘06)

September 2004 (Pre-Natalee Holloway): The number of stay-over visitors and their nights spent on the island went up, respectively, by 15.7 percent and 12.7 percent during the month of September 2004 compared to September 2003. Stay-over visitors from the United States and Venezuela rose by 18.8 percent and 14.5 percent, respectively. In contrast, the Dutch market fell by 3.3 percent. The average hotel occupancy rate registered a 6.5 percentage points increase to 73 percent. On a year-to-date basis, stay-over visitors surged by 14.6 percent against a 2.3 percent decline a year earlier, while visitor nights increased by 11.4 percent compared to a 3.9 percent increase in the corresponding period in 2003.

Sept 2005: The Aruba Tourism Authority has not yet published information on stay-over visitors and their nights spent for July, August, and September 2005. Data on the average occupancy rate of the hotels for September 2005 show a decrease of 6.2 percentage points to 69.3 percent, compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. In September 2005, cruise passenger arrivals fell by 35.4 percent, despite a 16.7 percent increase in the number of ship calls.

October 2005: The Aruba Tourism Authority has not yet published information on stay-over visitors and their nights spent on the island for July, August, September and October 2005. Data on the average occupancy rate of the hotels for October 2005 show a decrease of 4.9 percentage points to 77.8 percent, compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. In October 2005, the number of cruise passenger arrivals and ship calls both fell sharply by 38.9 percent.

Another interesting development is the decrease in cruise line passengers to Aruba. Although there have been more ships docked in Aruba, the end result is a decline in cruise passengers to Aruba.

Data on the occupancy rate for November 2006 has also not yet been published. In the month under review, the number of cruise passenger arrivals decreased by 1.8 percent, despite a 28.6 percent increase in the number of ship calls.

A drop in cruise line passengers and it doesn’t even count the loss of the ones from the Carnival Cruise ship Destiny that docked for the last time in Aruba in December 2006.

“Cruise passengers on ships of the caliber of Carnival Destiny spend an average of one-hundred dollars when they are in Aruba.  This cruise ship accommodates an average of 2000 passengers, which means a source of income of about 200.000 dollars per week years after years.”

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Rudy Croes: Holloway case Has Caused enormous Damage to the Tourism Economy of Aruba

The Natalee Holloway case has caused enormous damage to the economy and tourism of Aruba

Far be it from anyone saying that Rudy Croes is not quick on the draw. It has only taken nearly 20 months for Rudy Croes to admit the obvious … The Natalee Holloway case has caused enormous damage to the tourism and economy of Aruba. At least someone has admitted it rather than the ridiculous spin that the Aruba economy is perfectly fine. Let us not forget that Prime Minister Nelson Oduber declared 2006 a productive year in Aruba.

However, let’s just clarify what that statement really means. If Rudy Croes blames the Natalee Holloway case for being the reason why Aruba finds itself in the predicament they are then what caused the case in the first place? The fact that Aruba finds itself still dealing with this issue is because of Aruba. No more no less. All the finger pointing toward the media or Natalee’s family just infuriates people even further.

It was the nepotism and cronyism that caused the damage to Aruba’s economy. Why was this case not handled in the same manner other cases would have been? Why were three suspects last seen with Natalee Holloway treated differently than two black security guards?

The fact of the matter is that we have reported on and followed hundreds of missing person cases that have had similar if not the exact same circumstances as the Natalee Holloway disappearance that have been solved. Some in only a matter of days. Not in Aruba. In essence, Aruban officials need to look no further than themselves as to who is responsible for their economic plight. They can look in the mirror and at three suspects for their woes

Carnival Destiny says to Aruba … Hasta la Vista, Baby … Aruba tourism Take another Hit

Its a black letter day, or should we say black T-shirt day in Aruba. More disastrous economic news for Aruba … Carnival Destiny moors for the last time in Aruba. We are sure that will add to a prosperous 2007. All do not seem happy on “One Happy Island”.

Businessman René Zaandam organized a ‘mourning day’ as symbolic protest and called on everybody in the tourist sector to wear a black T-shirt today. Did the t-shirts look like this?

 A symbolic action, he admits.  “By introducing the bbo, this government made it clear that protesting means nothing.  They still do what they want and are not concerned about the tourism receiving a blow.  This is high season and yet there are days with no cruise ships in the harbour.” 

(Hat Tip Klaas: Commemorative “Destiny” Black Monkey T-shirt)

Aruba looses an important source of income with the leaving of this big cruise ship.  He is of the opinion that Tourism-minister, Edison Briesen  (MEP) has dropped a big clanger by not doing anything to keep the Carnival Destiny for Aruba.  “He knew already, since August of 2005, that the shipping company that owns this cruise ship was planning to stop calling in at the port of Aruba.  He pretended in March of 2006 that he knew nothing and in June he said that he would do something.  It didn’t help.” (Amigoe) 

So what will the losses represent to Aruba? But the loss of $200,000 will be spun as some how being a great advantage to Aruba. This must be part of  PM Nelson Oduber’s continues productive 2006.

Zaandam calculates the revenue that Aruba misses out on.  “Cruise passengers on ships of the caliber of Carnival Destiny spend an average of one-hundred dollars when they are in Aruba.  This cruise ship accommodates an average of 2000 passengers, which means a source of income of about 200.000 dollars per week years after years.”

The reason being that Carnival will no linger go to Aruba is gas prices, really? That’s funny last time we checked the price of oil was below $55 a barrel.  Aruba will spin the loss of the cruise ship Destiny as a net gain of three new ships that will port in Aruba. What they will not tell people is the fact that size matters, not the number of ships. Nor will they discuss the fact that not all cruise ship passengers are created equal, ie have the same spending habits. Look on the bright side Aruba, you still have white bread. At least for the time being.

Aruba Ports Authority (APA) announced last year November that three new cruise ships will call in at Aruba in 2007.  On Amigoe’s question whether these three ships will fill the gap left behind by Carnival Destiny, Zaandam reacted that it’s not the number of ships that is important, but the number of passengers and the amount of money they spend in Aruba.  “The new cruise ships have Aruba as pick-up point.  Thus their passengers fly to Aruba, arrive late in the afternoon, and leave port in the evening.  “These passengers won’t spend money on excursions in Aruba, because they do not want to miss their flight.  Besides the passenger on these cruises won’t have that much money to spend like the ones on Carnival Destiny.” 

Read the full story, Amigoe: January 5, 2007 Carnival Destiny says goodbye to Aruba 

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Oduber in New Year’s speech: ‘More tolerance in 2007′ (More Head in the Sand from Aruban PM)

In Prime Ministers Nelson Oduber’s New Year’s speech he claimed 2006 was a productive year. For who? Have you taken a look at your economic numbers lately PM Oduber,  Here … Here …. Here … Here … Here … Here.  Let alone inflation rates rising in Aruba, budget cuts, no legislation to control corruption and an inaccurately reported crime rate. What a joke. Unfortunately for the Aruban people, its being played on them as well.

Do you understand that Aruba has become synonymous with Missing Persons, Natalee Holloway and Cover up and corruption? No tourism marking plan will change that until you put worth a sincere effort to find real answers as to what happened to Natalee Holloway and prosecute those responsible.

That’s it, in a time where the rest of the Caribbean is enjoying prosperous growth in tourism and reaping the rewards of those economic windfall, keep your head in the sandy white beaches of Aruba. Hotel occupancy rates were up in nearby Curacao; however, not in Aruba. Keep spinning to your people that everything is okay. I think we can all remember another individual who disputed the facts over and over as well.

“2006 was a very productive year”, said Oduber.  He said that his government is a ‘trendsetter’ and he complemented the private sector that according to him, had done everything to contribute to the economic development of Aruba in a positive and constructive manner.

Aruban Prime Minister Nelson Oduber would dare ask for “solidarity, understanding, and toleration.” Interesting words coming from a man who’s MEP Party stated the following democratic and tolerant comments regarding summoning militants. These certainly sound like the words of a party that has the mission of “can’t we all get along”.

“If and when it comes to demonstrations and strikes, MEP will summon its militants to turn the tide and protect democracy and the constitutional state.”

MEP says that they are totally aware of AVP’s strategy and also which entrepreneurs are involved. “Do not confuse our kindness and toleration with weakness, because we warn the population that it will work out differently this time.”

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Tourism & Tourists: The Greatest Power Against the Caribbean … $$$’s

For those Caribbean countries that are so dependent upon the three S’s: “sun, sand and sea” … tourism and tourists have more power than they have ever believed. According to the WTO the Caribbean is the most dependent upon tourism which makes the short sighted and myopic views of Aruba most puzzling. Risking all in an effort to cover up a crime and not want to do all they could in the initial stages to put the disappearance of Natalee Holloway to bed so their tourism would not be affected. Instead, they foolishly thought the matter would just go away. What do they think now?

There are other Caribbean islands with much greater crime rates than Aruba that are prospering. The Caribbean is actually experiencing tourism growth. The people have a powerful way of voicing their opinions and dissatisfaction. Tourists voice it with their wallets and pocketbooks. Individual choice to right a wrong. There is no marketing campaign that can combat people’s opinions.

When will Aruba understand that perception is everything and it is not so much the crime that was committed against Natalee Holloway that they are being punished. It is the overt and conscious cover up to protect those with friends in high places. In this case, it was not the crime that destroyed Aruba’s tourism, but the cover up.

Fifteen million of those travelers, mainly from North America, head for the Caribbean, which is by far the most tourist-dependent region of the world. On smaller islands like St. Lucia, tourism’s contribution to the economy exceeds 70 percent, and the annual number of visitors far exceeds the resident population: Antigua’s 64,000 residents put out the welcome mat for 231,000 visitors one recent year.

On Caribbean tourist islands there has always been a sharp distinction between tourism and how locals view tourists. None more evident as in Jamaica as pointed out by the International Herald Tribune.

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