DREAM DESTINATION
Safe and welcoming, Aruba is an ideal vacation location

Visitors to Aruba are invariably struck by the warm and friendly atmosphere. Arubans are hospitable people who greet strangers with the words “Bon bini”, meaning “welcome” in Papiamento, the native language.
Thanks to their Dutch heritage and geographical position—”Where the Americas Meet”—most Arubans speak three other languages: Dutch, English and Spanish, which facilitates communication with visitors.
The weather—constant all-year round at around 82 degrees Fahrenheit —is pleasantly moderated by trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. And, unlike some Caribbean locations, Aruba is safely outside the hurricane belt.

Getting to the island is no problem, which is one reason why Aruba’s largest market for tourists is the United States. Six U.S. airlines fly there, with direct, non-stop flights from New York—not to mention Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago and Philadelphia. Getting back is easy too. Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport is one of only five to offer U.S. customs clearance. So, on return, American visitors can pass through customs and immigration before boarding and traveling home on a ‘domestic’ flight—much easier than standing in a long line on landing back home.

Once on Aruba, there is no danger of being bored. For those seeking sun and sand, it would be hard to imagine a more perfect location. Palm Beach, where most of the luxury resorts are to be found, extends for seven palm-fringed miles.
Indeed, one of Aruba’s beaches—Eagle Beach, with its famed sugar white sand and marine turtles—has been called “the best beach in the world.”

But there is much to see beyond the beaches. To the north, there is a fascinating and beautiful desert landscape, filled with cactus plants and the island’s ubiquitous divi-divi trees. Further down on the eastern side of the island, there’s Arikok National Park and amazing landmarks like the Natural Bridge and the Natural Pool, carved out of the coral by the pounding surf on the east coast.
A huge variety of activities are on offer. On land, there’s everything from golf, horseback riding and hiking along nature trails to sightseeing and shopping in Oranjestad, Aruba’s pretty Dutch capital city. The island is ideal for all
kinds of water sports, ranging from windsurfing, snorkeling and scuba diving, to kayaking, water-skiing, sailing and deep-water fishing.

In the evening, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from and some of the best nightlife and casinos in the Caribbean. The colorful annual carnival—held in February—is so popular, it may be staged twice a year in future!
Since the passing of a new law at the beginning of the year, visitors can even get married in Aruba—a move that has brought an influx of additional tourism to the island with hundreds of couples booking beachside weddings.
Best of all, however, Aruba is a safe vacation destination—safe to travel to and from, and safe to enjoy when you get there.

EDISON BRIESEN Minister of Tourism & Transportation

MYRNA JANSSEN-FELICIANO Acting GM of Aruba Tourism Authority

“People come here to feel free and de-stress,” says Edison Briesen, Minister of Tourism and Transportation. “Our airport is state-of-the-art, up to international standards and beyond, and we focus very strongly on the safety aspect for our passengers.
“You can wander around the island and mingle with everyone without looking over your shoulder. People can feel they are in their second home.”
Add a completely individual culture—a mix of Caribbean, American and European— and value for money, and Aruba can pride itself on offering its visitors something quite unique. “We are proud of welcoming our visitors and giving good service,” says Myrna Janssen-Feliciano, Acting General Manager of the Aruba Tourism Authority.

“A lot of people who come here want to come back. We are one of the safest islands in the Caribbean and our culture is unique. With our Dutch heritage and American influences, we are altogether different from other islands.”
Tourism accounts for 70 percent of Aruba’s gross domestic product and—either directly or indirectly—employs 80
percent of the labor force. The government is focusing on sustainable development of the industry in cooperation with the private sector.
“We have to maintain our uniqueness in the region because tourism will carry Aruba into the future,” adds Mr. Briesen. ”We have a lot of international hotel chains and we are aiming to attract a lot more luxury facilities to the island.”