The ATA, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, Transportation & Labour, produced a colorful coffee table book in celebration of the island’s recent milestone of marking 50 years in tourism titled “A Golden Aruba from A to Z—Celebrating 50 years and beyond in tourism.”
The project was initiated and overseen by Myrna Jansen, senior advisor to Minister Otmar Oduber, some two years ago under the creative direction of the award-winning travel writing team of Rona Coster and Tina Causey-Bislick from Island Temptations magazine. Serving as consultant with valuable input as the book progressed in design and content was ATA CEO Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, with additional contributions by Amayra Boekhoudt and Mandy Lopez.
“We offer this colorful memoir of words and pictures to the Aruban community, both in gratitude and as further inspiration to continue the adventure of this ongoing evolution of tourism that we have all embarked on together,” shares Ronella in the book’s forward. And the book, offers Minister Oduber, “…promises a refreshing glimpse of our Aruba Dushi Tera—our sweet land.”
The book offers just that—a taste of Aruba presented in colorful images and small anecdotes that as a whole bring Aruba and its tourism to life. Well-researched information is presented alongside a photographic mélange taken by many local photographers including Steve Keith, Annemiek C. van Vliet, Tina Causey-Bislick, Jason Inesia, Paul van Driel, Ricardo “Cado” de Lannoy, Fernando Dulce, John Carter, Alvin Paris Jr., and stock images from the ATA and Arikok National Park. Additional research contributions were provided by Biblioteca Nacional Aruba / Arubiana & Caribiana Department.
The 128-page coffee table book is being utilized as an educational tool by the ATA, and just recently was gifted to all travel professionals here on the island for the CATA and AME conferences. A digitalized version is under production, so that the local community can enjoy the book as well.
Pictured here are Myrna Jansen and Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes receiving the first copies of the book from creators Rona Coster and Tina Causey-Bislick. Some of CATA delegates enjoy the new book, also Minister Oduber presents the book as a gift during SeaTrade Cruise Shipping Miami Conference.
