Page 12 - AHATA

A14 LOCAL
Wednesday 10 January 2018
Blockchain Tourism Project Promises ‘New Era’ for Aruba

ORANJESTAD - The Aruba
Tourism Authority (ATA) has
claimed a new blockchain
tourism project will “ring in
a new era of innovation” for
the island, and could help
attract a younger type of
holidaymaker.

Swiss-based technology
start-up Winding Tree has
announced a new proj-
ect with Aruba’s ATECH
foundation (a conference
organizer and start-up in-
cubator program) to help
connect hotels directly to
potential tourists.
A platform will be launched
and trialed early this year.
Over the past few months,
Winding Tree has also an-
nounced similar partner-
ships with Lufthansa and
Air New Zealand to explore
distribution. ATA chief executive Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes.

The ATA told TTG it was not lowing the developments
directly involved in the proj- in this space closely.”
ect, but that it supported ATA insisted however that
the initiative, which is re- “OTAs would not go away
portedly part of a plan to completely”.
decrease the amount of “Agents like Expedia and
tourism revenue getting Priceline, and many others,
shipped offshore, via book- are all important partners
ings through the likes of of Aruba,” the tourism body
Booking.com and Expedia. added. “We will continue
“We are currently exploring to work together with these
ways to collaborate with established platforms.
the local travel community This will go hand in hand
to promote inclusivity. with supporting new for-
The partnership between ward-thinking platforms
Winding Tree and ATECH and ideas that may help
can help expedite the attract new markets and
adoption of blockchain target groups that are im-
and similar breakthrough portant to the island, such
technologies in Aruba and as millennials and Genera-
help local entrepreneurs tion Z…
break through existing bar- We understand some local
riers. This rings in a new era tech start-ups offering ex-
of innovation for Aruba, periences might be the first
which will set the tone for to test the platform.”
the rest of the Caribbean,” While the ATA said it was
it said. not aware if any tour op-
Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, erators had been invited
ATA chief executive, add- to take part, the author-
ed: “As an award-winning ity said this could change
digital destination, travel in- once the pilot begins.
novation and adoption of The island also has a “Smart
efficient technologies will Island Strategy” as it seeks
always be at the forefront to become a 100% renew-
of our goals as a destina- able energy destination by
tion marketing and man- 2020.
agement organization. Meanwhile, a separate dig-
We encourage our stake- ital currency called “bitt”,
holders to adopt and ex- also based on blockchain,
periment with new tech- has been developed for
nologies so we can always the Caribbean region.
stay two steps ahead. It aims to help countries be-
We are eager to test block- come less dependent on
chain in Aruba and are fol- foreign banks.q