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News
Briefs for Dec 22 - Dec 28, 1997
All
departments of the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Tourism Online
In pursuing it's vision for information technology, the Ministry of Economic Affairs &
Tourism recently presented its new website. At a press conference held
last week at Sun Plaza offices of the Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and
Industry, Minister of Economic Affairs, Tico Croes introduced the 10 new websites
currently accessible through the Internet.
All the departments that fall under that Ministry, including the Aruba Tourism Authority,
The Department of Agriculture, Husbandry and Fisheries, The Central Bureau of
Statistics and the Aruba Financial Center, all have their own website addresses. Through
the different websites, information about the island is now freely available both to the
local population as well as potential foreign investors and visitors.
The links to the websites are as follows:
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Aruba included in Frommer's Favorites
In the 1998 edition of "Frommer's Caribbean on $60 a Day"
several Aruban hotels received a star for special recognition.
Coconut Inn-Bed & Breakfast, a small hotel consisting of 40 units,
located in the heart of Noord, received a star on Frommer's Favorites list whish Includes
"Hotels, restaurants, attractions and entertainment you should not miss."
Start also went to Aruba Blue Village Suites, Stauffer Hotel
Aruba, Vistalmar Apartments and the Aruba Palm Beach
Hotel and Casino.
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Arikok project begins to take shape
The "Parke Nacional Arikok" project is well underway.
The first on-site constructions have begun, discussions with neighbors and interested
groups are being held and most importantly, the public is being informed of new
developments.
A project bureau has been implemented to guide the first phase of the construction and to
coordinate and execute the work. This task shall be handed over to the management of the
park once the project is running. The projectbureau is made up of a team of individuals,
from different areas, that are currently working together. The areas include; nature,
landscaping, husbandry and fisheries of the Department of Agriculture (LVV), and the
Department of Public Works (DOW).
The Parke Nacional Arikok is one of the few places remaining on the island where local
plants and animals can live and grow in undisturbed surroundings. In
addition the park offers several historical elements to the visitors. All
these elements rolled into one not only makes the park a priceless asset to our island but
also shows the important role the park plays in our community. Because of the significance
of the park in our community, future plans include an elaborate program to educate the
local population on the importance of taking care of nature within the park and outside of
it.
The public will be informed of new developments within the park via a newsbrief (Arikok
Nieuws) published monthly by the projectbureau.
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Winter
travel increases
The Travel Industry Association projects that 152.7 million people
will take a vacation 100 miles or more away from home this winter season, up 5% from last
winter.
The 1997-1998 Winter Travel Forecast, covering the December-February period, also projects
business travel will be up 5% to 65.5 million trips.
According to TIA's Travelometer, travelers who are very or somewhat likely to take a
pleasure or vacation trip intend to spend, on average, US$ 1,008 on their longest trip, up
from US$ 979. One third plan to spend US$ 500 or less, and 33% plan to spend US$ 1,000 or
more.
Also, 65% plan to spend four or more nights away, up from 60% last winter. The Travel
Industry Association credits the stable economy for the strong numbers. (Travel
Management Daily)
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Tourism
Facts
- China will be the world's top tourism
destination by the year 2020, says the World Tourism Organization. According to
Travel Management Daily, WTO released a new global travel forecast last week that predicts
1.6 billion international travelers in 2020, spending US$ 5 billion a day. China will be
followed by the United States, France and Spain.
The top generating markets? Germany, Japan, the United States and China.
- Long range weather forecasters are predicting a very
mild winter for the major markets in the North East as a result of El Niņo. In
the past mild winters have generally resulted in disappointing peak visitor levels
for the Caribbean.
- 14,588 new lower berths are expected to be added
to global cruise capacity in 1998 with an additional 15,394 lbs. in 1999. Most of this new
capacity is destined for Caribbean waters.
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[All information
courtesy of the Aruba Tourism Authority] |
