Page 13 - AHATA

24 LOCAL NEWS AWEMainta Diamars, 12 September 2023

A.T.A. Extends a Warm Welcome to the Colombian

Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies

WITH great pleasure, the Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.)
extends a warm welcome to a group of 19 wholesalers from

ANATO, the Colombian Association of Travel and Tourism
Agencies. This visit, orchestrated under the guidance of
Mr. Carlos San Martin, President of ANATO, and the ANATO
Wholesaler Chapter Supervisory Council, marks an impor-

tant step in strengthening ties between Aruba and the
Colombian travel industry.

During their visit, attendees had the honor of the pres-

ence of Ronella Croes, CEO of A.T.A., and Jordan Schlipken,
Area Director of A.T.A. Latin America, along with Claudia
Delgado, Sales Multi-liner Colombia, who accompanied the
group during their exploration of Aruba. The visiting dele-

gation includes wholesalers from various parts of Colombia,
including Bogota, Cali, Medellin, and Cartagena. Their
primary objective is to gain a deeper understanding of the
destination. Throughout their stay, they will experience our

“One Happy Island” in a personal and direct manner, as well
as meet with representatives from 21 different hotels and Latin America is to achieve a 103% recovery compared
tour operators on the island. to 2019, equating to a growth of 3%. As of August 2023,
Aruba has welcomed 78,183 stayover visitors from Latin

Interestingly, the vast majority of these wholesalers are America, marking a 22% increase compared to 2019.
not currently promoting Aruba in the Colombian market. Colombia remains the primary market for Latin America and
Therefore, this visit holds great significance as it opens has grown by 36% compared to 2019. Factors contributing
doors for future collaborations. During their stay, the dele- to this growth include the introduction of additional flights

gation will explore various sites and attractions to gain a to Medellin and the launch of new routes, such as Cali.
comprehensive understanding of all that Aruba has to offer.
They will also attend informative and educational presenta- About ANATO
tions focused on specific segments of the tourism industry. ANATO is a prominent organization representing Colombia’s

tourism industry. It collaborates with travel and tourism
Among these presentations, the Aruba Convention Bureau agencies to promote and develop the tourism sector in
will provide valuable insights into the “MICE” (Meetings, Colombia, fostering business opportunities and travel
Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment of the between destinations. In February 2023, the Aruba Tourism

industry, which includes conferences, meetings, and exhi- Authority, in collaboration with key players in Aruba’s
bitions. Discussions will also revolve around niche markets, tourism industry, was present at the 42nd edition of the
fostering an engaging dialogue with A.T.A. about opportuni- ANATO Tourism Showcase held in Bogota, Colombia. This
ties that can facilitate the wholesalers’ work in their market. participation underscores the commitment to strengthening

ties and expanding opportunities in the Colombian market.
This visit ensures that Colombian wholesalers gain the valu-
able knowledge necessary to promote our island effectively, In summary, this visit by Colombian wholesalers marks
ultimately increasing sales and the number of visitors from a significant step in bolstering Aruba’s presence in the

Colombia. Colombian travel industry and fostering a deeper under-
standing of the island’s offerings. With the Latin American
Regarding the Latin American Market market showing promising signs of recovery, this engage-
All signs point to 2023 being a strong year for the Latin ment with ANATO and its members paves the way for future

American market. A.T.A. is optimistic that stayover visitor growth and collaboration between Aruba and Colombia in
numbers will surpass pre-pandemic levels. A.T.A.’s goal for the world of tourism.