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Welcome to the
Visit Aruba Newsletter!
This section will be updated regularly, so keep coming back...
News
Briefs for January 1-31, 2000
- ATA
puts focus on pending tasks
In the final Headquarters report for 1999, titled “Tourism is more than
figures,” ATA Managing Director Jan van Nes looks back at a successful year.
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AAA
confirms 2000 rates
According to Aruba Airport
Authority (AAA) Division Manager for Commerce and Marketing Herry Koolman, the
benefits of Aruba’s newly renovated and expanded airport are to come at a limited
cost to passengers traveling and enjoying the comfort and security of this
state-of-the-art, Y2K-ready facility. He confirms that as of January 1, 2000 the
“Passenger Facility Charge,” AKA airport tax, will increase for the first time
in two years from US$20 to US$23. An additional “Special Facility Charge”
of US$3.25 will be added to the ticket price of those passengers making use of the U.S.
Departure Terminal and the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Services found therein.
Another charge which could impact cost to consumer,
but, as Koolman stresses, is not the direct responsibility of the consumer but of the
airline, is an US$8 General Usage Charge per passenger, which covers use of new terminal
equipment and services including loading bridges, holding rooms, conveyor systems and
housephones.
The new “Special Facility Charge” which helps make access to U.S. Immigrations
and Customs Services in Aruba possible, is expected to greatly enhance and expedite the
travel experience from Aruba to the U.S., allowing U.S.-bound flights from Aruba to enter
the states as domestic flights. As confirmed by Koolman, the first three U.S. Customs
Agents will be arriving in Aruba the beginning of January. After completing their final
assessment of the facilities, which, as Koolman states, should proceed without a problem,
U.S. Customs services should be available in Aruba to U.S.-bound passengers, as expected,
in January, 2000.
With the completion of Phase Two – which includes the establishment of the new Aruba
Immigration section and the reconfiguration and renovation of the Arrival Hall -- the
Queen Beatrix International Airport will realize its grand opening in August, 2000.
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What to do in Aruba…
New brochures help illuminate the
island’s many options.
Aruba de Dia y de Noche is ATA’s new attractive 24-page, Spanish language guide that
outlines all the island’s activities from watersports to museum-hopping, cultural
festivals to hot nightspots.
Aruba Cruise Guide 2000 is a 24-page glossy that acquaints cruise passengers with the
unique tourism product of Aruba, informing on turnarounds, port development and shore
excursions and activities.
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top
Aruba’s
“Singles Week 2000” generates excitement
Aruba is the place to be for sophisticated singles during
the week May 6-13, 2000. Thanks to the efforts of ATA Chicago’s Lindon Lydon, who
joined forces with Sonesta’s Mari-Elena Baldwin, the island will host its first
“Singles Week,” with packages including round-trip air to Aruba, accommodations
for 8 days/7nights at the Sonesta Resort
plus welcome reception, island orientation, beach Olympics/Caribbean Beach BBQ dinner,
Jeep safari around the island, sail on Tattoo party
boat, exclusive night at Havana, free entrance to Bon
Bini
Festival, club hopping trip throughout the city, farewell Carnival night dinner and the
complete services of a Singles Concierge. The package is now being sold
through: Gogo Worldwide Vacations, American Airlines Vacations, Travel Impressions, Apple
Vacations, Delta Vacations, Continental Vacations, TWA
Getaway Vacations Vacation Express, Sunquest, Alba Tours, Future Tours, Travel Charter,
Global Vacation Group, GWV and TNT.
For more, contact Linda Lydon, ATA
Chicago
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Air
Aruba diverts its Caracas flights
Air Aruba recently announced that it has diverted its
Caracas, Venezuela flights to Valencia, Venezuela until further notice. The flights to
Valencia run Tuesday through Thursday, departing Aruba at 5 a.m. and arriving in Valencia
at 5:45 a.m., and departing Valencia at 7 a.m. and arriving in Aruba at 7:45 a.m. All
other Air Aruba flights to Venezuela, Porlamar/Isla Margarita and Barcelona/Puerto la
Cruz, will continue as scheduled.
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ATA puts focus
on pending tasks
In the final Headquarters report for 1999, titled
“Tourism is more than figures,” ATA Managing Director Jan van Nes looks back at
a successful year – with the inaugural flights of Martin Air, TWA, Condor, TAM and
Delta and the achievement of a 5-6% increase in overall visitors and room nights in
comparison with 1998 – but notes the work that still must be accomplished in order to
maintain the island as a prime destination in the Caribbean.
The 37,000 extra visitors mean a significant boost to our island’s economy….
However, tourism is more than figures…. Today we realize the importance of yield,
value for money, visitors satisfaction, quality, sustainable tourism, technology, human
resource development, motivation, product development, long term strategy and quality of
life, “ he states.
He stresses a new approach and focus must be given by the government, through the Ministry
of Tourism, to legislation and product development as well as to helping fortify ATA
itself. It is by listening to Aruba’s visitors and their comments that it was
determined that the issue of legislation must be addressed in various sectors, in
particular public transportation, watersports and timeshare sales.
He notes that legislation also needs to be enacted in order for Aruba to capture the
lucrative wedding market, but remarks, “Aruba has yet to reach a TIEA agreement with
the USA from within the private sector. …I have not seen initiatives in Parliament to
say that we are developing any legislation towards this very important tourism industry.
Our competition, however, is far ahead of us in developing sustainable tourism models and
shaping their product towards a more demanding consumer.” When
considering the Aruba product, he explains that it the visitors themselves who have helped
illuminate which areas of concern are greatest. Poor road systems and a lack of roadsigns,
increased in-security and environmental issues were all points brought to the attention of
ATA in 1999 and which merit government attention in 2000.
In achieving a new style within ATA itself, he remarks that a Tourism Steering Committee
was installed a few months ago, but results from meetings, said to be held on a regular
basis, have yet to be announced. Human resource development is an important factor
within ATA, but he states frankly, “…the process [to hire additional qualified,
educated candidates] came to a halt in 1998…. Also, almost none of us attended a
course these past two years due to financial restrictions. This is to be considered a
serious setback to any organization that cannot continue to educate her staff.”
ATA, however, is continuing to search for new options, especially when it comes to
technology. He offers, “…there are new, exciting technologies out there,
however, only a few of us are able to master them. Our website [www.aruba.com], very
sophisticated in 1996, is now outdated; we plan to develop a new state-of-the-art site in
2000. We…need to be educated on the possibilities offered by new technologies. We
open the year with a seminar/workshop [with our tourism partners] in January so that we
can make sound decisions towards where we want to go.”
ATA Director Jan van Nes concludes, “…tourism is
more than a comparison of figures versus the year before and I hope that our Minister of
Economic Affairs and our Government will dedicate more time to the other factors in the
year 2000 which also are of great importance to our industry.”?
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Aruba’s a hit with island’s 400,000 U.S. visitor
“Everything,”
Amy Burrs emphatically stated when asked what she liked best about her first trip to Aruba
and as the island’s 400,000 U.S guest for the 1999 year. Both her and her husband
Bill, were hosted to a number of surprises as the island’s very special guests,
helping to celebrate Aruba’s every increasing market share from the U.S. (up 11% in
1999 when compared to 1998 figures).
April and Bill Burrs, young professionals from Hoboken, New Jersey, gratefully accepted
gift certificates generously donated by the island’s tourism partners -- dinner for
two at Le Bouillabaisse Restaurant, dinner for two at Sonesta’s Brasserie Restaurant,
dinner for two at the Holiday Inn Aruba, a trip for two on the Tattoo party boat, snorkeling trip for two on De
Palm’s “Fun Factory” catamaran, trip for two on the Atlantis Submarine and
a limousine transfer from and to the airport by Friendly Tours – after receiving the
surprise of a lifetime and a warm welcome at the Queen Beatrix International Airport
by Minister of Tourism Lili Beke and ATA tourism officials.
After discovering the island’s 400,000 (and 400,001) guest were on their way to their
hotel, Marriott management also offered a special greeting to April and Bill, presenting
them with a certificate for a free dinner at the resort’s famed Tuscany restaurant.
At the conclusion of a truly unique vacation, Bill remarked: “We were happy with
everything, everyone was so nice.”
Bill and April are already making plans to return to the island, using their free
roundtrip airfare presented by Air Aruba, and the five-day stay offered by the Wyndham
Aruba in Oct/Nov.
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Island resorts celebrate their accomplishments
December was a momentous month for the island resorts, with
the completion of renovations and celebrations helping to further mark a successful 1999
for the island.
On December 18 – 19, a special dedicated tournament among golfing friends, family,
and guests was held at Tierra del Sol Golf Course, in order to mark Amsterdam Manor
“decade of excellence.” This 72 unit, intimate low-rise resort, mirroring
the Dutch colonial style with a distinct Caribbean flair, is still a family affair. Jurgen
van Schaijk, having taken over for his father Piet, is the managing director of this
successful resort, maintaining a hands-on style which has resulted in an approximately 90%
occupancy rate for the past five years.
Thirty-four-year-old Jurgen van Schaijk proudly describes his resort, "Amsterdam
Manor has always had a family focus, evident both in the involvement of my own family and
dedicated hotel staff, as well as in the tourism product that we provide. Quality
always speaks for itself, and we attract and cater to singles, honeymooners, and families
with small children, offering consistent, excellent service that guests often choose to
repeat year after year. With an international multi-lingual staff, guests enjoy the
personal touch of staff who cater to their individual needs, as well as the respect
afforded them in being spoken to in their native language. Our resort has great
appeal in the European market in particular, although North and South Americans preferring
a tropical, laid-back yet exclusive vacation experience feel equally at home."
Amsterdam Manor is an active member of E.B.A-C.A.S.T (Eagle Beach Area Coalition for
Aruba's Sustainable Tourism), working with other hotels in the Eagle Beach area on environmentally-friendly
programs, and has earned the Green Globe environmental hotel certification. The
Houston-based Freeman Group, whose inspectors rated Amsterdam Manor above the island-wide
average score, also recognized the resort.
On December 22, 1999, the Radisson Aruba Caribbean Resort realized its soft opening and
welcomed its first guests to the its completely upgraded and renovated property. Guests,
Mr. And Mrs. Marshal Bard, were the first guests to enter the resort since it closed down
for its extensive renovations in 1997. The resort will realize its grand opening in April,
2000.
The Holiday Inn Aruba, which celebrated its 30 successful years in Aruba this past
October, will greet the year 2000 with completely renovated rooms in all three of its
towers, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. The resort had already completed a number of
renovations to the resort earlier this year, including a luxurious new lobby, new outdoor
eatery, renovated fitness center and new look to its casino.
The Wyndham Aruba also completes a complete upgrade of all its rooms this month with heavy
wood furnishings and classic designs accenting the feel of luxury at the resort.
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Mooo er... new website for The
Paddock
Eetcafé The Paddock, located right next to the fruit market and the
harbor is the only genuine Dutch bar on Aruba. In Holland we call it an 'Eetcafé' meaning
that you can enjoy different popular platters each day in a friendly
atmosphere as you savor your favorite beverage. What will strike you most of The Paddock is its open air
ambience. You wander through its open doors sipping your beer, or have a drink at the bar
or even sit outside and enjoy the seaview while relaxing on the cozy terrace embraced by
the warm Aruban sky.Check it out at http://www.paddock-aruba.com
Very often your visit to The
Paddock is accompanied by Dutch music
with a happy 'Dutch hour' every Friday from 5-7 PM. There is also a Happy Hour on Sundays
and Tuesdays from 11 p.m. till midnite: Ask for one, get TWO!
Paddock Cuisine is a variety of Dutch favorite platters - on Wednesday's you can enjoy
"all you can eat ribs" for only US$10.
Rates vary from US$4 - 14, and there is NO service charge. The Paddock is open seven
days a week from 10 a.m. till 2 a.m.
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Back to latest News
News courtesy of ATA Newsletter Editor:
Doreen Boekhoudt
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