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A13
Tuesday 19 June 2018

Innovation Summit: A.T.A. Presented “Tourism As A Catalyst For Innovation”

ORANJESTAD — This week
took place an Innova-
tion Summit organized by
the Aruban government /
Ministry of General affairs
which carries the topic of
‘innovation’ on a govern-
mental level. During this
conference the CEO of
A.T.A. Ronella Tjin Asjoe-
Croes, was one of the in-
vited speakers which cov-
ered the topic of “Tourism
as a Catalyst for Innova-
tion’.

The presentation covered
different topics, and re-
flected among others on
the importance of tourism,
which is the main income of Examples include : online
Aruba’s economy, but also immigration cards which
on how dynamic this indus- were launched December
try is seeing quick changes 2015, also the MoU that
in the areas of variation in was closed with Airbnb in
taste and consumer pref- 2016, where Aruba was the
erence, technology, po- first one to do so. Here we
litical and also economical stand still to the fact that
changes. Agile destina- A.T.A. don’t have com-
tions, which could quickly plete control on projects
adjust and could manage that represent innovation
innovation duly would for and that are essential to
sure win in this area in the collaborate with other en-
dynamic tourism world. tities and that innovation
Underlined was the impor- must surely carry a true
tance of this taking in con- commitment of all involved
sideration how competitive if it wants to be successful.
this industry is ; the tourism In the case of the online
industry is one of the big- immigration card and the
gest industries worldwide, MoU with Airbnb, the co-
which is 10.4% of the global operation with governmen-
GDP which sums up more tal departments was really
than 313 million employ- good, but in the case of
ment spots and that is one MoU and Airbnb, the final
of the fastest growing in- that could catalyze inno- tant to also introduce as- objective wasn’t reached,
dustries. It is no surprise to vation. This without doubt is pects that make sense with In this context Mrs. Tijn As- which was being the first
see more nations elevating the case for Aruba, facing the tendencies worldwide joe-Croes indicated that a in the Caribbean to have
the importance of tourism the fact that for Aruba tour- indicating which direction lot of what is important to a ‘partnership agreement’
as part of their economy. In ism is the biggest industry. tourism is moving in. It was the actual visitor and future with Airbnb. This would
Aruba, the contribution of If innovative activities are consequently shown in a visitors are aspects that our make sure that tax pay-
travel and tourism brings up stimulated outside the tour- video that the top 10 ac- community also indicated ments from those that rent
86.5% of our income (GDP) ism industry this also should tual tendencies that varies that are important to them, accommodations under
and forms 87% of the total be link to the industry as from the ability to be well and this is beautiful to see! the Airbnb cap would be
employment spots on our cardinal part of the suc- connected during a vaca- Improvements serve both covered by Airbnb. Aruba
island. cess of innovative products tion (technology) but also the industry as the people until today doesn’t have
/ services, looking at the the desire to experience that live here. This is the this, while others in the Ca-
During the presentation amount of potential cus- more of what makes the most important for A.T.A. ribbean do. Even though
they shared how in general tomers that this represents – destination authentic (for . For A.T.A. innovation is they are many challenges
innovation is born outside almost 1.8 million visitors per example it’s food), but also key and presented various along the way true com-
of the tourism world, but in year that Aruba receives the importance of those examples of projects that mitment would give the
general this industry tests adding up cruise ship tour- that travel to admire what A.T.A. has put in front of necessary priority to this
and implements various ism and ‘stay-over’ tourism. humanity has put on as en- them to be the first one to agreement and will for sure
products or innovative ser- vironment protection and introduce this in the Carib- lead to the final goal.
vices in short time. Tourism is Tourism is so integral to the protection of our natural bean and so be a innova-
categorized as an industry life in Aruba that it is impor- resources. tor in this region. Continued on Page 14