By Hazel Heyer of TravelwireNews.com

Oranjestad, Aruba (eTN) — Over 3500 tourists, mostly soul aficionados, descended upon the sunshiny island of Aruba on Memorial Day weekend. A huge wave of soul music lovers rushed to the shores of the Caribbean hot spot during the 6th Annual Soul Beach Music Festival from May 24th to May 29th at the capital.

Voices from America’s high-octane R&B artistes filtered the air all through the starry night at the open-air Havanna Beach Club Amphitheater. Nine-times Grammy-award winner Alicia Keys, Brian McKnight, Anthony Hamilton, Lenny Williams and Nina Sky capped 2 nights of spirit rhythm. Other music headliners graced the 5-day affair complete with beach parties, exclusive nightclub gigs hosted by US dee jays and top radio jocks and sizzling after-show bashes all around the capital, especially along Main Street and around the Oranjestad Harbour.

Crowds packed the ‘lower-box and ringside’ sections for a closer look of their favorite hitmakers. Several partied on their own ultra-luxury yachts and million-dollar speedboats, approximately 25, anchored closest to shore and the cash bars in marquees.

The Aruba Tourism Authority is a host sponsor of the music extravaganza. Minister of Tourism and Transport Edison Briesen said, “Aruba is proud to host the Soul Beach Music Festival for the sixth year as this year’s line-up is remarkably talented.” For years, his office has worked closely with American producer Mark Adkins, raking in sizeable returns for the island as well as tourism sales and marketing all across the US.

“We are very proud that our island has fared well in 2005 in the wake of what was a challenging year for tourism,” said Managing Director for the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) Myrna Jansen. The ATA reported a healthy 2005 with total numbers at 732,514 reflecting an increase of 4000 travelers over the year previous. From the US alone, some 532,352 arrived representing over 1000 (or .2 percent) additional guests over 2004 figures. The US market, the biggest for the island, represents 72.7 percent of the island’s total market share. Repeat visitors have constantly registered a 40 percent rate. Memorial Day reported occupancies from 90-100 percen all across Aruba.

In return, Adkins who was given the Ambassador of Goodwill plaque for his efforts in promoting Aruba, said: “Once again, Aruba has embraced the 6th Annual Soul Beach Music Festival by providing a remarkable venue, an attractive setting, as well as gathering place for new and old acquaintances to unite. Vacationers experience the best of what Aruba has to offer in the way of tourism and hospitality.” Adkins engineered the entire four months of sales blitz across many states penetrating R&B markets via radio, print, TV (Black Enterprise SETAR and VH1 Soul) and live events from East to West Coast.

Briesen added, “We have a lot of events. This is just one of the special events that generate general traffic. In the line of attracting diversified markets, this is one good and activity. We do receive guests from this event since launching it in the ’90s.” Soul Beach ups the tourism ante with results clearly reflected on the US market count. Traffic does not only come from North America but also from non-traditional markets where the event is not directly pitched to. Next on the calendar is the 5th Annual Aruba Music Festival on Columbus Day weekend, made electric by the world famous rock and roll bands.

“It is encouraging to see this big number of tourists who have traveled here safely. Through the years since 1995 of doing this as the sort of Caribbean Music ambassador, I am happy to see that we inspire. Spirit of soul music is all about collective consciousness. At the time when the negativity has the microphone and speakers, soul music can show positivity will prevail over negativity. In the end, hope prevails over pessimism,” enthused Adkins.

On the airline scene, it was one of chaos. Couple Jess S. and Shawn B. from Miami had been separated on their flight from Florida as American Airlines operated full before, during and after the holiday. They split cabins just to get on-board and escape to Aruba this weekend. Ten US airliners serving Aruba daily don’t seem enough to absorb traffic.

But Ann Parker, resident of Trinidad and Tobago flew in specially to see her American idols. She said the trip’s not only good value for money; the event is something she looks forward to and supports from year to year.

New Yorker Sally Simpson, time-share owner at the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino was on R&R when she heard about Soul Beach. She did not have to think twice before buying those concert tickets. “I just took off from the hotel the minute I heard Anthony Hamilton and Brian McKnight were performing.”

Both female visitors came unescorted to Aruba and the venue. Both solo travelers had fun music-tripping on the white sandy shores of Havanna Beach.

Hazel Heyer thanks the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, the primary host hotel for the international media and the production crew.