What people have to say! They say the same, another installment.
I wrote to some of my friends sharing a chat:
For a column. I will use materials anonymously.
Question 1. Do you think Aruba is starting to suffer or has been suffering from over tourism?
Question 2. If you find it is, how does it affect you in your everyday life? Where do you feel it?
Question 3. Bring up one or two practical suggestions what we as an Island can do, you can keep it short or long. Thank you. We have been seeing protests around the world and I am wondering if people here feel the same.
From an event organizer, social media expert
#1: Yes
#2: Beaches like baby-beach suffer, too many people, the place is loud, prices are tourist oriented, there is trash everywhere. This is not special anymore.
#3: No more condominiums ….
From a homeowner, an ex-pat living in Aruba for many decades.
#1: Yes
#2: In addition to what everybody else says such as traffic congestion and the high cost-of-living, etc., I would add to the housing crisis for locals. Everybody is renting out their properties as Vacation Rentals. There is not enough housing left for the locals at a reasonable price. And now we must bring thousands of people to work at these hotels. Where are they going to live? And all these condominiums that they are building, only foreigners can afford to buy and then they end up renting them out to tourists. Also, these people who end up moving here to work at these hotels will have kids. And their kids need to go to our schools which are already overcrowded, and can you imagine what that is going to do to our existing traffic situation? Also, all these people need doctors and healthcare. We already have a major shortage of doctors and long waits, just to see a medical professional.
#3: Stop focusing on quantity of tourism and start focusing on quality. I am so tired of seeing all these ATA charts every month, as we break tourism records. We cannot manage it. No more condominiums. No more hotels. And we must somehow figure out a way to control the vacation rental industry. It is too much.
It is not a One Happy Island when our locals are suffering. We only try to look good in front of the tourists. But what about ourselves?
From a social worker in the local school system.
#1: Yes, we are suffering!
#2: Traffic is crazy, beaches are crowded! Lots of boat traffic in the Malmok area. Should be a no motor zone. For some unknown reason the government stopped the swimming lessons given to island kids on the beach next to RIU ANTILLES, we are not sure why. Is that related to tourism?
#3: Stop giving more hotel permits. Demolish a few hotels and give the land back to recreation. No more condominiums. Prohibit or regulate vacation rentals, and condominiums.
From a businesswoman, entrepreneur.
#1: We have been suffering from over tourism from before 2020, and the fact that so many Americans and other visitors buy homes on the island. We attended a protest organized by Ursell in favor of a hotel ban and sustainable tourism in 2018!!
#2. The increase in roadside trash and traffic, the insane pricing in restaurants and supermarkets. The never-ending reach of GOA trying to keep its finger deep in our pocket with unnecessary taxation creates a stressed population. The total disregard for our environment and for our customs. The liberty tourists take in walking our streets and in markets in bikinis, do they do it back home? The exhaustion of locals working two jobs to make ends meet. The weariness of the population serving our “visitors” overall translates to the iffy service we receive. The lack of affordable housing or opportunity for locals to buy affects those I care for
#3: Place a ban on more hotels, any hotels which go bankrupt could be reclaimed after creditors are paid and turned into long term elderly care facilities if possible. With tax credits some of the larger hotels like the new embassy suites could be encouraged to sell to someone willing to invest in residences and long-term care for 65+ in those pristine locations. Vacation Rentals owned by nonresidents could be taxed heavier if they own more than one property to discourage all funds being made on island from leaving island.
From a free-spirited entrepreneur
#1. Yes
#2: To add to what everyone already said, I hate the smell of the Bubali plant on eagle beach, the foul smell in the water of Palm Beach in front of some hotels.
#3: No more hotels for sure….
