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local Thursday 25 July 2024
Palapa usage yet again an issue for beach goers

experienced this at any other
tropical beach resort.”

As in previous instances,
many users in the group
reacted, generating more
than 200 comments.

User J.P. stated that “there
have been ongoing issues
with this for months and
months. Any palapa on the
beach is public. They do not and do not belong to any
belong to any hotel or resort. hotel. Therefore, palapas
Whoever gets there first gets on the beach are also con-
it. There is no charge. Chairs sidered public and can be
for rent, yes. Please show used by anyone who arrives
this letter to the police. The first. In some cases, this is not
police will go to the hotel in applicable if the hotel's prop-
question and give them a erty line extends to a certain
warning.” point on the beach or if the
hotel has reached an agree-
Meanwhile, C. R. clarified ment with the government
that the palapas on hotel to privatize the use of the
property are private. “But palapas, allowing the hotel
The issue of tourists wanting must be rented.” The article posted a screenshot, the those are the ones near the itself to build the palapas.
to use palapas (thatched discussed whether palapas hotel informed them: “We [hotel]. Those beyond the
beach umbrellas) on the are free or if they belong to have palapas and umbrel- blue mark are on public The lack of clarity on this
beach has become a recur- a hotel and are exclusively las for rent. For the palapas, beach.” topic has caused a lot of
ring problem in Aruba. This for hotel guests. At that time, you must make a reservation confusion and frustration
week, on a popular tourist there were even reports of in advance, for the umbrellas Amidst the controversy, among both tourists and
Facebook group, the con- people being intimidated you can just inform the Pool AHATA CEO Tisa LaSorte pro- locals who use the palapas
versation again turned to the and frightened, being told and Beach attendant. The vided a comment to clarify to protect themselves from
topic of palapas and wheth- they could not use the pala- price for the palapas ranges the situation, stating that the Aruba's strong sun while en-
er hotels should charge for pas without renting them – from $18 to $30 depending hotel in question “has a strip joying their day by the sea.
their usage. sometimes even the police on the location. The umbrel- that is their leasehold. Pub-
had to intervene. las cost $40.” lic beaches has a precarious Given that this situation con-
This topic has come up sever- permit that allows usage and tinues to arise and cause
al times between tourists and This time, in the mentioned “Do you have to pay to the placing of chairs, etc., frustration among tourists, it
locals in Aruba. In June 2023, Facebook group, a user stand under a coconut tree but not for charging.” would be beneficial for the
Aruba Today’s sister paper with the initials G. M. post- umbrella on the beach?” the government to find a way
Bon Dia Aruba addressed ed about an email received user questioned. “So in other In 2022, Bon Dia Aruba to distinguish public pala-
this issue in an article titled from a hotel, calling its con- words, if I want to be on the sought for clarification on the pas from private ones and
“It remains unclear if the tent "outrageous." In the beach and in the shade, I palapa situation. As is known, thereby provide more clarity
use of palapas is public or email, of which the user have to pay? We have never beaches in Aruba are public for users.q

Aruba Tourism Authority honored a loyal visitor at Aruba Beach Club!

The Aruba Tourism Authority re- tively honored with a certificate for The honorary certification is pre- the Aruba Tourism Authority, and
cently had the great pleasure of her years of visits, loyalty, and love sented on behalf of the Minister staff members of Aruba Beach
recognizing a Distinguished Visitor for the island of Aruba. of Tourism as a token of apprecia- Club bestowed the certificate
of Aruba. The honoree was respec- tion and to say “Masha Danki” to upon the honoree, presented her
guests who have visited Aruba 10, with gifts, and thanked her for
20, or 35 years or more consecu- choosing Aruba as her favorite va-
tively. cation destination, as her home
away from home.
The three levels of honor are as fol-
lows: The top reasons for returning to Aru-
Distinguished Visitor (10>years con- ba provided by the honoree was:
secutively visiting Aruba) • Aruba’s people.
Goodwill Ambassador (20>years • Aruba’s beaches.
consecutively visiting Aruba) • Aruba’s weather.
Emerald Ambassador (35>years • Aruba makes you feel safe.
consecutively visiting Aruba) • “Family and friends we
meet here”
The honoree was:
Distinguished Visitor On behalf of the Aruba Tourism Au-
Ms. Louise Werner from Saugerties thority, we would like to express our
New York, United States. sincere gratitude and appreciation
to the honoree for her continued
Mr. Jorgino Willems representing visits to the “One Happy Island”.q