Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Monday 16 July 2018

40th anniversary of the Timeshare Industry in Aruba

ORANJESTAD — In honor was outstanding, and the in food and beverage, as the current study was more very good. The gross eco-
of celebrating the 40th an- resort environment and the combined food and than $1,422 each. In com- nomic value of the Aruban
niversary of the Timeshare atmosphere were great. beverage expenses (in- paring 2008 to 2017, there timeshare industry in 2017
Industry in Aruba, a report The commitment that the side and outside the resort) was approximately $4,419 is conservatively projected
was commissioned by the respondents had for their was $399.46 per person or spent per group per vaca- at an estimated US$ 530
Aruba Timeshare Associa- timeshare resort was very
tion, ATSA, to provide an notable. The large ma-
overview of the island’s jority of the timeshare re-
timeshare landscape from spondents were extremely
data collected in 2017. The (56.2%) and very satisfied
report was commissioned (33.4%) with their most re-
in collaboration with Aruba cent timeshare purchase.
Tourism Authority, ATA, and An interesting finding was
prepared by the University that in terms of the impor-
of Aruba, UA. The following tance of sales and market-
is the fifth article in a series ing factors in the final deci-
of six, summarizing the re- sion to purchase timeshare
port. in Aruba, the highest rated
items were previous hotel
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS visits on Aruba and direct
The results of the study con- contact with the resort rep-
ducted in order to compile resentatives, but the low-
the report show that the est rated items were travel
timeshare visitor to Aruba agents, television ads, and
is overall very satisfied with previous cruise visits to Aru-
the product of the time- ba. One suggestion could
share and with Aruba as be to target cruise pas-
a destination. In general, sengers with a tour/activity
the respondents were older package when they leave
Americans that were split the cruise ship to show
between male and fe- them the value of the time-
male. The large majority of share resort on the beauti-
respondents were consid- ful island of Aruba. Since
ered Baby Boomers (more cruise passengers get such
than 90%), and approxi- little time in Aruba, creat-
mately 70% of them earn ing a unique adventure
more than $90,000. for them could encourage
The majority of timeshare them to purchase or trade
respondents owned their to Aruba.
timeshare (77.8%) and the
majority of people pur- With regard to satisfaction
chased their timeshare be- with their most recent pur-
fore 2003 (46.1%) and had chase of timeshare, more
visited the island of Aruba than 75% of respondents
more than 10 times (68.1%). are extremely or very sat-
These respondents typically isfied. Less than 1% of the
had one week of timeshare respondents were very or
(46.5%), and the major- extremely dissatisfied with
ity paid less than $15,000 their timeshare purchase.
for that week. The mainte- Spending and economic
nance fees for one week impact are two positive
of timeshare ownership av- factors related to the time-
eraged $1,000 and there share industry as revealed
were additional fees for the in the current study. The
majority of timeshare re- overall timeshare group
spondents that averaged spending (average of 3.25
$753 over two years. people) for the entire trip $1,298.25 per group, per tion in 2008, and $4,724 in million. This is equivalent to
Most people did not trade on average was $3,723.56 trip to Aruba. The amount 2017. (Not included in the an estimated one-third of
or exchange their time- without any maintenance spent on gambling was study - lodging, Aruban gross tourism earnings, and
share from Aruba and the or other timeshare fees in- $217.26 per person, and goods and products, jew- almost 20 percent of nomi-
primary reasons that they cluded, it is $4,723.56 per shopping was $124.13 per elry and high brand name nal GDP projected for 2017;
bought in Aruba were that group with maintenance person per trip. Overall, products) the equivalent of one-fifth
they believed Aruba was fees in the total spend. the spend by the aver- The economic impact from of the Aruban gross domes-
a quality destination, the The largest areas of spend age individual staying in a the timeshare owners to tic production.
overall resort experience from the respondents was timeshare on Aruba from the island of Aruba was Continued on Page 14