Is my love affair with Aruba coming to an end?

[Glenn]

Good morning dear friends, and friends of Aruba,

The strategy of wanting to attract low-volume, high-value tourists is both understandable and something that sounds so very familiar to me. Stay with me here.

Like Aruba, the Hawaiian island of Maui has been pursuing the same type of strategy for some time. Many of you know that I go to both Aruba and Maui, as a matter of fact, Maui is booked for mid-April to mid-May 2023.

The government of Hawaii has made it known that they would prefer high-spending hotel guests who eat in expensive restaurants rather than condo guests who spend their food and drink money at Costco. In the case of Aruba, just swap Costco for SuperFoods

The choice of a certain income level by Aruba tourism officials is arbitrary but it really is a way of steering Aruba away from mass tourism as Arawak so rightly points out. Mass tourism, the kind pursued by Mexico, DR, Cuba and other destinations, puts increased pressure on basic infrastructure like sewer and water, electricity and traffic handling, including parking as well as the flora and fauna. When these things fail, even briefly, we the tourists are the first to voice our concerns. Well, aren't we?

Will the strategy keep me from returning to Aruba. Perhaps eventually, but no, not yet.


Glenn

[cpjones]

Frankly..... it's all long term goals for the high value tourist. We peons still have time to enjoy the island.

Funny that a previous administration allowed so many building permits for huge amounts of new rooms. That seems contradictory to the plan!

[Aruba4ever]

Haha- well said. I am sure the Embassy suites will be fine but I am not sure their "preferred" customer is looking to stay there- but what do I know.

Frankly..... it's all long term goals for the high value tourist. We peons still have time to enjoy the island.

Funny that a previous administration allowed so many building permits for huge amounts of new rooms. That seems contradictory to the plan!

[robin]

Aruba can aim for whatever they want, however; what will dictate who comes to the island is out of Aruba's control. People make decisions based on many things, such as, location, amenities, etc. However, the cost for most people is important: Aruba cannot dictate to hotels, airlines and restaurants what to charge, thus Aruba cannot control who comes to the island. Hotels, airlines, and restaurants all want to make $$$ and they don't care what your income maybe as long as you can pay. Right now there is a glut of places to rest your head for the night and more are being built. Aruba is actually making it less expensive, in a way, by allowing more hotels to be built-more competition to fill those rooms, so in theory, lower prices.

To try and say they want an income of $150,000 is meaningless. $150,000 is a lot of money in the hills of West Virginia, but won't get you as far in Manhattan. It is all relative to where you live how far that $150,000 will get you. So, what I am trying to say in a roundabout way is: Just because a visitor makes $150,000 it does not mean they have more $$$$ to spend in Aruba than someone who makes $75,000 a year.

[Aruba4ever]

Yep, 150k in the city of Boston and you are not living it up blowing money left and right with a family of 3 or 4. But in NY where my wife grew up you would be loaded, lol.

[annf]

Aruba can aim for whatever they want, however; what will dictate who comes to the island is out of Aruba's control. People make decisions based on many things, such as, location, amenities, etc. However, the cost for most people is important: Aruba cannot dictate to hotels, airlines and restaurants what to charge, thus Aruba cannot control who comes to the island. Hotels, airlines, and restaurants all want to make $$$ and they don't care what your income maybe as long as you can pay. Right now there is a glut of places to rest your head for the night and more are being built. Aruba is actually making it less expensive, in a way, by allowing more hotels to be built-more competition to fill those rooms, so in theory, lower prices.

To try and say they want an income of $150,000 is meaningless. $150,000 is a lot of money in the hills of West Virginia, but won't get you as far in Manhattan. It is all relative to where you live how far that $150,000 will get you. So, what I am trying to say in a roundabout way is: Just because a visitor makes $150,000 it does not mean they have more $$$$ to spend in Aruba than someone who makes $75,000 a year.

Well stated....I second this!

[flpctc]

I do agree with you here Glenn....
The choice of a certain income level by Aruba tourism officials is arbitrary but it really is a way of steering Aruba away from mass tourism as Arawak so rightly points out. Mass tourism, the kind pursued by Mexico, DR, Cuba and other destinations, puts increased pressure on basic infrastructure like sewer and water, electricity and traffic handling, including parking as well as the flora and fauna. When these things fail, even briefly, we the tourists are the first to voice our concerns. Well, aren't we?

I think the number value of $150k is arbitrary and I don't think it was meant to exclude others, especially all their repeat loyal Aruba lovers.
I look at a lot of things said by many government agencies that I take with a grain of salt. I think the people of Aruba will always say Bon bini !

[Arawak]

Funny that a previous administration allowed so many building permits for huge amounts of new rooms. That seems contradictory to the plan!

Not funny, but agregiously corrupt! The ex minister of infrastructure was in court just last week along with some of his buddies to hear the recommended sentencing by the public prosecutions office. They recommended 5 years of jail, a 10 years ban on holding any public office and the impounding of close to 1 million in cash. He is suspected of bribery, defrauding the country of Aruba, money laundry and misuse of public funds. This becomes the 2nd minister of that AVP government (2009-2017) that comes before the courts, after the ex minister of social affairs, Paul Croes was sentenced to 3 years in prison. There's every possibility these two won't be the last ones either from that AVP government.

https://www.noticiacla.com/news/26693

[shariuno]

Interesting points everyone, thanks!

Yes, the wording was poor in the article and may have been translated - but we all get the gist / message of what is being said.

Don't get me wrong, i don't want Aruba to become like DR, Mexico, Jamaica either! that's why i choose Aruba it's different and i love it. But like someone said it is no St Bart's or Anguilla.

Over the years i've been very disappointed to see how much new development there was going on, whilst reading info about the impact of tourism on the island and the strategy of quality over quantity - it never made sense to me why all of these new hotels and condos had been approved when the 'strategy' was on the cards. The Ritz was never meant to be built and following the construction of it there were to be no more high rise hotels - but we all know that didn't happen (St Regis). Once this was announced condos started flying up at speed and we know the rest!

I also notice new condos called Atlantic 360, behind Amsterdam manor - strange, as Eagle is a low rise area (i had wondered how this got approval?). I always show my HB new condos and i joke that if they don't stop building Aruba will sink - it really feels like that these days it's crazy.

The point about lack of land for locals is a problem and i too think it will only be a matter of time before foreigners cannot purchase land (shame, it's always been a dream of mine as my great uncle worked at the refinery). So much land has been sold off to investors / developers / ex pats that i can see why there would be a problem, but i would have expected a government to have foreseen this being a potential issue with Aruba being such a beautiful place.

For the time being we will see how it all pans out and i hope you all manage to get back to Aruba and enjoy it to the fullest.

Just my thoughts / opinions not meant to offend.

[flpctc]

Thank You Shariuno for bringing this to our attention. I also appreciate all the different comments ... food for thought.
As long as the people of Aruba are welcoming and I can afford it, I will enjoy the Happy Island.
It looks like the government for now anyway, says one thing and acts differently.