Page 2 - AHATA

A16 LOCAL
Friday 22 September 2017
Happiness Index Study Identifies Aruba as Happiest Island In The World

ORANJESTAD - New re- of UCF. “Over the past
search suggests the five years, we’ve col-
“One happy island” lected a significant 2,000
of Aruba is the happi- surveys, stratified across
est island in the world, four core groups in Aru-
relative to size. Follow- ba, and have seen the
ing a 5-year Happiness desired stability in the is-
Index study conducted land’s happiness levels.”
in partnership between Aruba’s famous brand –
Aruba Tourism Authority One happy island – has
and the Rosen College been around, with some
of Hospitality Manage- interruptions, for nearly
ment at the University of 40 years. But for Aruba,
Central Florida – results happiness is more than a
confirm 78 percent of trendy subject or tagline;
the Aruban population is it’s an inherit part of the
happy, while 76 percent island’s DNA that Aruba
also express longer-term has committed to study-
satisfaction with life. ing since 2011.
When compared to the “As the No. 2 most tour-
2016 World Happiness ism-reliant nation in the
Report, commissioned world, Aruba greatly
by the United Nations to values the happiness of
measure the happiness our local people – they
index of 157 larger coun- are the heart and soul
tries, Aruba’s results rank of Aruba and ensure the
higher than No. 1 Den- quality tourism experi-
mark at approximately ence that has defined
75.3 percent. our destination,” said
“It’s important to note Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes,
that while other Carib- CEO of Aruba Tourism
bean islands are includ- Authority. “We evaluate
ed in the World Happi- the success of our tour-
ness Report, Aruba is the ism not only by its tan-
first and only Caribbean gible benefits, but also
island to ever measure its by intangible benefits in-
own happiness index,” cluding local happiness
said Dr. Robertico Croes and life satisfaction, as

that directly impacts visi- piness,” said Dr. Manuel logue and intent,” said
tor happiness.” Rivera of UCF. “Through- Otmar Oduber, Aruba
While the study reveals out the course of our Minister of Tourism, Trans-
Aruba’s tourism is not the studies we’ve confirmed portation, Primary Sector
main driver of happiness, Aruba’s people are gen- and Culture. “We would
the successful industry erally happy with their also like to see prestigious
brings satisfaction to the quality of life as well as World Ranking Reports to
local people and yields with the imperative con- incorporate ‘small island
material benefits/re- nection between the development states’
sources the government destination and tourism. such as our One happy
and Aruba Tourism Au- Happiness in Aruba can island, in its studies.”
thority use to perpetuate be seen as a self-fulfilling Aruba’s approach to
local happiness. Island- cycle, tourism develop- happiness already has
wide wellness initiatives ment drives happiness caught the attention
and downtown devel- for the residents which in and support of The Unit-
opments including the turn results in happy tour- ed Nations World Tourism
Linear Park, for instance, ists.” Organization.
inspire quality time with As the exclusive Carib- “We’ve reviewed the re-
loved ones and personal bean island to measure sults of the study, which
fulfillment, which locals its happiness index, Aru- is in line with our meth-
value most. ba encourages nations odology, and believe
“Among all the destina- of all sizes to follow suit. it merits attention on a
tion research projects our “It is important to mea- worldwide level,” said
university has conducted sure the success of a UNWTO Secretary-Gen-
around the world, Aruba country beyond eco- eral, Taleb Rifai. “We
has been one of the nomic indicators and would like to see this
most compelling islands to make happiness and model applied across
to make inquiries about well-being an integral other Caribbean islands
quality of life and hap- part of our national dia- and worldwide.”q