Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200523

locAl Saturday 23 May 2020
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Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA):

Conservative and gradual recovery expected with 40 %

occupancy in December

ORANJESTAD — The Aruba COVID-19 crisis AHATA’s
Hotel & Tourism Associa- projection for the rest of
tion has published the lat- 2020 has become more
est hotel performance data conservative. The situation
showing the crisis’ effect on is still unprecedented with
2020 tourism so far. ‘ very little confirmed infor-
mation to count on. How-
April’s 0 occupancy has af- ever, considering the cur-
fected the average for the rent view of the situation in
first 4 months of the year as the United States, the fact
follows: that fewer people will trav-
Occupancy: At 34.8 points el prior to introduction of a During the recovery period at the low levels of income It is impossible to escape
lower than the same period vaccine, immense financial most companies shall ex- that will be experienced for importation of new cases;
in 2019, the 2020 year-to- effects on individuals, and perience higher cost than the months ahead. Some however, a substantial
date average occupancy the turmoil in the airline in- income levels. The govern- will need to restructure to limitation would help mini-
rate is 53.6%. dustry, AHATA has updated ment’s salary subsidy pro- survive and some will need mize the size of a second
ADR: The average daily its forecast. gram offers relief as long to close their doors perma- wave and consequently
rate (for occupied rooms) is At this point, AHATA ex- as it is available. Reality nently. its impact on our health-
6.5% higher than the same pects the following tra- remains that the crisis does care infrastructure. AHATA
period last year, at $359.14. jectory for Aruba’s hotel not end when the lock- For the reopening of Aru- is of the opinion that Aruba
RevPAR: The revenue per occupancy recovery (if down ends. Many compa- ba’s borders, AHATA has must do its utmost to avoid
available room is $192.38 the border opens on June nies are not able to survive recommended strict entry a second lockdown, which
year-to-date, a 35.4% re- 15th): requirements to help re- would cause more eco-
duction. duce the number of im- nomic damage than the
A month further into the ported COVID-19 cases. first one. q

Do not eat the parrotfish

ORANJESTAD — Aruba weekly grocery shopping in her Facebook post. Car-
Reef Care Foundation’s when she suddenly saw lotta then continued why
goal is to create aware- the last thing she expected it is best not to eat parrot
ness and to preserve our to see in the fresh seafood fish although it is a gas-
marine life. There is a great section. In a Facebook tronomic delight in some
lack of awareness and post which has since gone parts of the world. “There
knowledge about many viral, user Reg O. Carlotta are important reasons
‘ocean issues’ but today wrote how disappointed why we should not eat
we focus on one only: the she was to see a stall sell- them and we should edu-
parrotfish. ing parrot fish among the cate the fishermen to stop this: They poop fine white ter. And when they are
Aruba Reef Care: “As an fresh fish and seafood on catching these beautiful sand – lots of it! Each par- left to chomp away, they
NGO we try to help, but display. fish!” she added. Accord- rotfish produces up to 320 do a brilliant job. A mas-
there is a lot more going “This morning I went to the ing to Carlotta, parrot fish kilograms (700 pounds) of sive new report concludes
on and it should be done market (Alabang market) help save the coral reefs sand each year,” Carlotta that reefs, where parrot-
with utmost care and un- to buy meat and seafood from algae invasion. They continued. “Their num- fish were abundant in the
derstanding of local situ- for the whole week since also help to eat dead bers are so depleted, and 1980s, are the reefs that
ations and stakeholders.” it is holy week. I enjoyed corals and spend most of algae levels are so high, are healthy now.” Accord-
They shared the following my usual chit chat with the their days nibbling algae that they cannot be fished ing to Virgin.com, as many
story on their Facebook vendors and buying from from coral reefs. In other sustainably right now any- coral reefs are dying and
page. my sukis. On my way out of words, parrot fish help where in the Caribbean. algae levels are so high,
the fish section I passed a clean coral reefs from be- These flamboyant, algae- parrot fish is not exactly a
One woman was at the stall that was selling PAR- ing smothered by algae. eating, sand-pooping fish sustainable catch of the
market in Manila for the ROT FISH!!!” Carlotta wrote “After all that eating, get need to be left in the wa- day at the moment.q