Aruba votes to allow same-sex civil partnerships
Aruba has become the first Caribbean island to allow same-sex civil partnerships.
Aruba Tourism Authority country manager UK and Ireland Joanna Walding said she is informing tour operators and weddings specialists that feature the destination so they can add this option to their programmes.
The Dutch Caribbean island already has an international reputation as a leading destinations for weddings and honeymoons and this development is set to further enhance that, she added.
More than 1,400 of last year’s 12,300 UK visitors went to the island for their honeymoon or to marry – just over 11% of the total and an increase of more than 19% over the previous year.
One of the leading members of the Aruban parliament backing the change, Desiree de Sousa Croes, said the landmark decision was an important one.
"It is so beautiful to have people tell you that you are an example for the rest of the Caribbean.
"We are a small island but this has so much impact on the rest of the Caribbean. Aruba has set the tone and now the other Caribbean islands can follow," she said.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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