Aruba tourism starts major multi-million dollar push
Aruba’s tourism effort is a getting a major boost with a wide variety of new projects that represent a $230 million investment designed to make the island a major destination.
“We are poised for an increase in both tourism numbers and revenue in 2006,” said Edison Briesen, minister of tourism and transportation.
Both the government and the private sector are behind the move. Expansions and renovations include virtually every sector of the travel industry, ranging from the airport and cruise terminals to hotels, spas and restaurants.
Some initiatives:
- A $34 million investment at Queen Beatrix International Airport to add new security, updated signage, and increased accessibility for disabled travelers and other upgrades.
- The Aruban government is investing $16 million to create the largest linear park in the Caribbean, a ten-mile stretch with hotels, green areas, walking and bike paths that will enhance the ocean view along the major highway from the airport to hotels.
- RIU Aruba Grand is closing for a $40 million expansion to add 286 rooms. When completed, the hotel will be a 451-room, five-star property.
- The Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort’s $20 million Divi Phoenix tower construction starting this year will more than double the 140-unit facility.
- The Divi Aruba Golf and Beach Resort is doing a $42 million expansion to add another 52 new rooms in April, with another 56 later in the year.
- The Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino, which did a casino expansion last year, plans a $3.4 million room renovation this year and a $12 million room renovation in 2007.
- Several new restaurants have opened and the government has also launched “The Aruba Promise,” an island wide tourism-training program.
One of the most obvious areas of immediate impact is Baby Beach, on the east side of the island, and downtown Oranjestad, the island’s capital. Tourism officials say $180 million is going to hotels and resorts in that area.
The airport improvements are particularly timely because many carriers, including American, Continental, Delta Song and United, have recently expanded service to the island.
Tourism officials promote the island as having year-round, near-perfect weather with only 20 inches of rain a year.
They say repeat business is at 40%, the highest of any Caribbean destination.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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