Aruba will survive ...?

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Aruba will survive with or without
Natalee Holloway hype
Jan 27, 06 10:59 am
By Hazel HeyerAruba is moving forward with
exciting tourism plans for 2005. The small island
continues to be recognized as a popular vacation
destination, enjoying a reputation for offering a
quality product with a high level of safety and
security for visitors, according to Jorge Perqeura,
President and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and
Tourism Association.
Last year, the island in the heart of the southern
Caribbean, 15 miles off the coast of South America,
reported arrivals of 453,875 guests from January to
July, 2005. This reflects a 2.4 percent increase over
the summer, a 10 percent rise in the winter or an
overall spike of 6.8 percent from year previous.
Yearly, Aruba welcomes around 750,000 overnight
visitors from all over the world.For a country with
a population of about 100,000, it received about
344,401 Americans between January-July 2005,
posting an 8 percent increase over 2004.
This, despite the mysterious disappearance of
Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway who went
missing since spring break on the island’s limited
area of only 75 square miles – barely 19 miles long
and 6 miles across the widest.So far, there has been
no trace of Natalee ever since her class headed
back to the US.
Three young locals were implicated in the case.
Investigations are ongoing.Stephen Cohen,
a seasoned television news expert who has been
part of the Strategic Communications Task Force and
SMDG Consulting Team advising the Aruba Hotel and
Tourism Association confirmed Aruban authorities
have arrived in the state of Alabama this week to
cooperate with police/ the FBI now speaking with
Holloway’s schoolmates.
They hope to get vital information from friends and
classmates who saw her last, before she left with
the boys hanging at the bar. Disclosures will be
made this week in Alabama after authorities sieve
through some leads again.As to how much the
investigation has cost the Arubans? Cost estimates
for the case have already reached in the millions of
dollars. Police, judicial officials, volunteers, divers,
search and rescue teams, dogs, Dutch marines and
even F-16 aircrafts with special electronic device
have searched every inch of the island.
One pond was drained and divers have searched
the ocean.
Investigations remain very active and major police
resources have been dedicated to the case.
The government has permitted free access to the
island by search parties organized by the family
and cooperated with consultants and experts
hired by the Holloway's.Aruban business community
have gone out of their way to assist in the search,
donate huge sums of money, offer complimentary
services, hand-out flyers and announcements,
hold vigils and prayer services, set up radio station
tip hotlines and cooperate with authorities.
Unfortunately, the much-needed forensic evidence
and witnesses who can directly link the suspected
men have not since been turned up.
On top, the controversy has been wildly stirred by
the media with sloppy reporters jumping to
unfounded claims, as opposed to authorities
reviewing the case with utter professionalism.
Though spotlight is once again shed on the case of
Natalee - finding her or reaching some degree of
closure - Aruba forges ahead with tourism 2006
headstrong.
2005 has been good in terms of arrivals and tourism
nights despite calls for tourist boycott by the governors
of Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia.
Arrivals from Canada went up by 5.7 percent to 13, 548,
up 11.1 percent to 36,986 from Europe but went down
by 1.9 percent with other nationalities.
From January to October 2005, Aruba reported cruise
passenger arrivals totaled 393,671, down by 9.7 percent
from 2004’s 436,089.
(Data were supplied as at January 11, 2006)
At the recently-concluded Caribbean Marketplace organized
by the Caribbean Hotel Association, Tourism and
Transportation Minister Edison Briesen said they are
busy with developing the Quality Plan on the second
tourism corridor at the other end of the island.
This will include a new hotel and golf course along
tourism policy lines, the upgrading and expansion of
quality tourism products through a deal inked with the
private sector.
The investment plan, about $60 million spread over the
coming 4 years, will enhance the landside,
parking areas, new buildings to be built on the bay,
as well as expand the Curacao base Forward
Operations Location complimented by Aruba.
Borders shared with the Dutch Antilles will be made
safer as Aruba has US immigrations and customs
on the isle.
Briesen announced building the quality Fixed Based
Operations where private aircrafts and jets can be
given their own air and landing space on one side
of the runway of the Queen Beatrix International
Airport.Upgrading the cargo area is also a top priority.
“This is consistent with constantly upgrading the
quality of our product.
We are expanding the boats in Barcadera Industrial
Harbor as the boats in Oranjestad are full,”
said Briesen adding that cargo space in the Cruise
Terminal will be moved to Barcadera which will be
fitted with yachting facilities next to the upgraded
cruise terminal. The cruise terminal is part of the
package sold by Aruba.
Turn-over cruise passengers and stay-overs total
about 1.2 to 1.4 million visitors a year – a number
11 times the population of Aruba.
Green zones in the area will also get a facelift from a
budget of approximately $16 million.
This will include the area from the airport to the
tourism corridor.
During the second part of 2006, the plan will begin.
Downtown upgrades will follow suit including revamp
of infrastructure, facilities, green zones and all
parking areas.
The Buchiri Hotel, closed since 3 years, is now in its
phase of finalizing with a new management company.
Eleven bid to acquire it. Five groups were short-listed.
But this February final negotiations will have taken
place with the selected operator.
When completed, the new Buchiri will have a casino
and its 150 rooms will have expanded to 350.
Next to the Marriott, a Ritz-Carlton is also about to sign
a 297-room contract to operate first time in Aruba.
Contracts will possibly close in the next weeks.
New airlifts will soon draw huge crowds, facilitating
increased traffic flow.
We were very successful in attracting the new airlines
to introduce new routes, said Briesen.
Some 90 percent of air route capacity is operated by
scheduled airlines; the rest, with the charters.
Arubans are getting more involved in the trade.
Campaign slogan The Promise which kicked-in this
January is a training campaign passed on from hotel
workers to secondary schools.
The program is in line with making locals understand
tourism and become active stakeholders in
Aruba’s most important industry.
The training will cement the partnership between the
tourism association and the hotel association,
according to the minister.
In Aruba, the major key players are the tour operators,
hotel chains, and the airlines. “We now can look back
at 2005 as a successful year. Despite the many ups and
downs, we certainly had good damage control.
The strong partnership with the public and private
sector helped in cutting-down on the wrong images
portrayed about us in the last 6 months.”
Briesen forecasts a 15 percent growth in tourism due to
rising rooms inventory and demand.


Let's help the
Arubian tourist board!

Things To Do In Aruba-
Gamble
Drink
Whore
Rape
Murder
Sex slave trade
Party
and lie!!