Tourism News Still Terrible for Aruba; More cruise ship passengers; less stay over tourists

Amigoe; June 13, 2006: More cruise ship passengers; less stay over tourists 

Cruise ship passenger are reported up in Aruba; however, stay over tourists have dropped to disastrous levels. Aruba can spin these numbers all they want, a cruise ship passenger and a “stay over tourist” are not created equal.

The figures of the Central Bureau for Statistics show that more than 75.000 cruise ship passengers visited Aruba in March.  That is 15 percent more that in March of 2005. 

The growth in February was 8.9 percent compared to same period in 2005.  The growth in the first three months of this year was 9.9 percent.  Tentative numbers for April show a drop compared to same month in 2005.

However, the room occupancy, room average proceeds and airport were disastrous. It has been stated in the past that no one was going to cancel a cruise if one of the ports of call is Aruba and while there are several other Caribbean spots on the itinerary. However, people were going to make a conscious choice not to go out of their way to visit Aruba due to the manner in how they handled the Natalee Holloway investigation. That prediction has come true and come home to roost for Aruba.

One does wonder though whether these cruise ship passenger numbers are being inflated by Aruban officials. Are they counting individuals who actually Dis-embarked from the ship to Aruba or only passenger head counts that booked the complete package cruise where Aruba just happened to be a port of call? If the latter, there is no guarantee that the cruise ship passenger ever got off the ship in Aruba. However, the main number that effects Aruba the most are the airport and hotel numbers. Those were down again as expected.

Compared to March 2005, the average room occupancy of the hotels dropped with 29 percent.  Almost 135.000 stay over guests were registered, which is 55.000 less than last year.  Also the average proceeds per room dropped with 11 percent to 199.12 florins per room. 

The airport of Aruba registered 70.753 departing passengers, which is a decrease of 12 percent compared to March 2005, when 80.000 departing passengers were registered;

Is there any wonder why Arubans are protesting in the streets over increased taxes? Increased taxes from the fact that the Aruban government’s tax revenue from tourism has been severely hit. Who could not have seen any of this coming? What did Arubans think was going to happen when tourism dropped off 2, 5 or even 10%? In this case it is much worse. Now Arubans protest, after the damage has been done as opposed to protesting for “Justice for Natalee” to prevent the tourism decline from occurring.

AM Digital

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Let’s really look at the numbers. 30% less room occupancy. Out of 30% less people staying in rooms, there was an 11% decrease in the room rate as well. It needs to be pointed out that this also occurred during Aruba’s high season. Another 12% decrease in passengers at the airport. Imagine the loss of revenue from these decreased tourism for restaurants, taxi’s, shop owners and all the other secondary tourist businesses?

All they ever had to do was treat this case as they would have any other crime on the island and not shown an overt favoritism. If they had just treated this case in a respectful manner and the family with that same respect, none of this would never have occurred. What an expensive lesson to learn, but none more expensive that the Holloway’s and Twitty’s losing Natalee.

Media Reminder: Jossy Mansur of Diaria Aruba will be on the C-Band Talk Network

Special Guest: Managing Editor Diario: Jossy Mansur

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Amigoe: Strike & Unrest in Aruba, Water will not be disconnected; electricity, not sure

Amigoe; June 9, 2006: Water will not be disconnected; electricity, not sure

The police assumed this morning that approximately 2000 to 4000 activists will let the government know their dissatisfaction this afternoon. 

Police spokesman Papito Comenencia indicated that all higher ranked police officers were called to maintain the order and public safety.  The police advised the people that do not want to have anything to do with the protest action, to avoid the city this afternoon and evening and to choose an alternative route.  “The city will probably be unreachable.”

This must make for a tremendous tourist experience in Aruba? First time vacationers and those tourists that have been on the cusp of making decisions whether to return in the wake of the Natalee Holloway disappearance.

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Amigoe: When is Enough, Enough? When it Directly starts to Effect The Poeple

It has been a year since Natalee Holloway went missing. In that period of time the tourism to Aruba has increasingly declined. The Aruban officials continually looked the other way, stated that there were no affects and delayed reporting the tourism numbers. Even today, some continue to live in denial, stating that Aruban tourism is fine. Really? Ask the people.

Why are Arubans now protesting the increase in taxes that are occurring? Economic changes never happen overnight. The slowly but surely take hold. Increases in inflation. Loss of tax revenue from tourism. Shifts in debt. Slowly but surely over time it happens and when heads are turned or kept in the sand the effects are extremely damaging. An economy is like turning a large ship. It takes quite a while to respond; however, once it does the changes take even longer to correct its path. Read the following articles from Amigoe regarding Aruba’s discontent. Looks like they are finally paying attention as they are being directly affected themselves.

Amigoe; June 4, 2006: Political manifestation massive 

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Amigoe: Oduber: ‘We have no choice’

Amigoe: June 2, 2006

Oduber: ‘We have no choice’ 

The ramification of the Aruban authorities unwillingness to take the Natalee Holloway investigation serious are coming home to roost. The disastrous loss of American tourism means a loss of tax dollars to the government. We posted a year ago that “This would not be good for tourism, and Aruban officials just ignored the obvious. Odeber states, “we have no choice”. YES YOU DO.

 Actually you do have another choice. Do your job and FIND JUSTICE FOR NATALEE.

ARUBA — “Citizens, don’t let any political party provoke you to do things against your will.  They do this in their own advantage.  We are not waiting for anarchy and chaos.”  With these words, Prime Minister Nelson Oduber addressed the population yesterday evening.  He had hoped to root out the aversion towards the increase of the import taxes that came into effect today.  According to him, there is no other way to settle the finances of the National Government.   

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