ORANJESTAD – Aruba welcomed a total of 91.471 ‘stay-over’ visitors in the first month of this year, this means an increase of 2.5 % (+ 2.202 tourists) compared to the same month last year. If the Venezuelan tourists are excluded, an increase of 8.1 % (+ 6.535) tourists is shown and the total visitors come down to 86.935.
The numbers show an increase of the key markets for Aruba; United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Argentina.
Tourism ‘stay-over’
Compared to last year January, the tourism coming from North America has grown with 8.3 % (+ 5.098 tourists/total 66.727 tourists) covering 72.9 % of the total incoming tourism. In January, United States increased with 7.4 % (+ 4.091 tourists/total 59.474 tourists) and Canada with 16.1 % (+ 1.007 tourists/total 7.253 tourists) compared to the same month last year.
Latin America shows a decline of 18.1 % (- 3.290 tourists/total 14.917 tourists) with Venezuela showing a decrease of 48.9 % (- 4.333 tourists/total 4.536 tourists), compared to the same month in 2017. Brazil has grown with 30.7 % (+ 365 tourists/total 1.553 tourists) and Argentina shows a growth of 33.7 % (+ 1.153 tourists/total 4.573 tourists). The continent of Latin America covers 16.3 % of the total tourism in the month of January 2018.
For Europe an increase of 6.2 % in tourism (+427 tourists/total 7.284 tourists) is shown compared to the same month last year. The Netherlands brought 13.3 % more tourists to Aruba (+ 428 tourists/total 3.655 tourists) and the United Kingdom increased with 7.5 % (+21 tourists/total 300 tourists), although Germany dropped with 23.5 % (- 133 tourists/total 433 tourists). Europe represents 8 % of the tourism in the month of January 2018.
Cruise Tourism
During January 2018, 108.298 cruise passengers visited our island with a total of 53 different cruise ships. Compared to the month of January 2017, the cruise tourism grew with 20.7 % (+ 18.564 cruise tourists). January 2017 brought 89.734 cruise tourists with 44 cruise ships to Aruba. It is important to mention that January and February were busier than usual, due to the ‘aftermath’ of the hurricanes in the last quarter of 2017 that affected other cruise destinations in the Caribbean.
Tourism Receipts / Central Bank of Aruba
In agreement with the Central Bank the ‘Tourism Receipts’ for the first 6 months of 2017 can be set for a contribution of AWG 1585.6 million to our economy, meaning an increase of 4.8 % compared to the same period in 2016.
Hotels / AHATA
According toAruba Hotel and Tourism Association, the ‘Average Daily rate (ADR) for January 2018 increased with 10 % compared to last year January: US$ 301.69in2017, US$ 331.94in2018. The RevPARgrew with 15.7% from US$ 256.42inJanuary2017toUS$ 296.77inJanuary2018. The occupation rate (ORN) per room increased with 5.4% forJanuary2018. AHATAnumbers are based on 14 properties inclusive the majority of the hotels with the exception of Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino.
