The ARUBA AIRPORT just published MONTHLY TRAFFIC STATISTICS, an incredible document that looks at our tourism from every angle. I will read it over the weekend, and report. The airport now has the capacity to operate 24K aircraft movements a year, both inbound and outbound, which is impressive, and they are building to expand, to meet the needs of 2030.
The airport also announced good news about growing its reach into South America, with GOL, running direct flights to and from São Paulo, Brazil, which will diversify our visitors ‘profile, a bit.
But that is not the question you should ask.
We want to know how the vision of the Minister of Tourism, designed to attract fewer tourists but higher spending ones, aligns with 122,573 visitors, in June 2024, a remarkable 20.7% increase from June 2023. And how does an increase of 22.2% in cruise tourism, compared to last year, square with his famous High Value, Low Impact, tourism model.
The High Value, Low Impact tourism model was originally sprung on us, in 2017, when talk about the island’s Carrying Capacity created interest, for the first time. If I remember well, the consensus was that we have reached our Carrying Capacity, then.
Back to remarkably busy June 2024. My friends believe, we have not seen anything yet, because three big openings loom on the immediate horizon, with St Regis, Iberostar and Secrets, building fantastic resorts. Then in the next year, the expansion at the Hilton, and most probably Manchebo and Divi Phoenix, will add to their inventory.
I stopped counting the condominiums under construction.
How does the vision line up with our reality?
One more question. Nelson Orlando Oduber in his FB page posted a question in support of his son, to spite investors. He asked how much of the 6 billion our tourism generates stays on the island.
Which is a good question. Much of what tourism generates here goes overseas, to the corporation running successful businesses on our island.
But a lot stays here, with GOA’s hand a permanent fixture in our pockets.
The former Prime Minister’s question is untruthful. You, and your predecessor invited the big corporations, you rolled out the red carpet for them, you gave them favorable conditions to set up their business, you granted them land, and now you lament your too-small share of their success?
They took the risk, they made the investment, success is theirs, you levy 7% at the gate, besides a plethora of room and resort taxes, even collecting for the need to poop.
They manage their businesses well, they make money, why would you imply it is wrong? We should only wish/hope to manage the island with similar efficiency.
