Page 20 - ATA

A13
Tuesday 20 February 2018

Aruba Fishing Charters Report Phenomenal Online Revenue Growth

-Online bookings soar as captains embrace new ways of doing business

Charter captains from Aruba have risen to the occasion,
and it certainly shows. According to data from Fishing
Booker, an online booking platform for fishing trips all
around the world, the last three years have seen an
increase of almost 270% in total earnings from online
booking sites. The total number of fishing trips ar-
ranged online has achieved comparable growth, going
from 176 in 2015, to as many as 647 in 2017.
Another noteworthy piece of data is about where the
customers making these bookings come from. An as-
tounding 95% hail from the USA, the biggest number of
which are from New York City. Canada, The United King-
dom, Germany, and The Netherlands make up the rest
of the top 5. Europeans definitely know about Aruba,
and it’s safe to say they like it too. However, the fact
that The Netherlands make up less than 1% of all trips
booked online is surprising as Aruba remains a constitu-
ent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The potential for growth is there however, and it re-
mains to be seen whether Dutch anglers can be incited
to visit in greater numbers. The captains are very opti-
mistic about it. Online booking websites have definitely
helped attract people who might not have even heard
of these businesses otherwise. “We get people of all
ages and from different countries. It’s been very good
for us,” remarks Captain Michael.q

By Joris Zantvoort
ORANJESTAD - Aruba is well known with anglers all over the world for its
abundance of various game fish and good weather during the entire year. The
Blue Marlin fishery is the finest around, meaning there’s always someone out
near the east coast looking for Billfish. The inshore flats are also rewarding
fishing grounds. The abundance of Barracuda, Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, Snook,
and plenty of other fish is sure to keep even the most experienced angler
busy.

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in the number of fishing trips in Aruba
booked online. This comes as no surprise, as online services have made inroads
into other marketplaces because of their sheer convenience. “The way people
do business has changed,” notes Captain Glenn from Hatts Off Charters, and
points out that “small operators like ourselves can’t survive without the inter-
net.”
Booking a fishing trip was not so easy before the internet revolutionized the
way we approach travel in general. If you were going to a different country on
the other end of the planet, you had no choice but to visit the marina yourself
and hope to find a good captain. It was both difficult and time consuming to
find good info about Aruba if you’re in a small European country, for example.
These days, customers have unparalleled freedom when it comes to comparing
options and getting the best value for their money. Captain Michael from Kristel
Fishing Aruba has experienced that from the customer side as well. “In March,
I’ll be going to Thailand. I’m already looking online to charter a boat there. It
makes your life so much easier. One of the first things I will see are the reviews,
and they can help me choose the right boat.”
Things have changed on the captains’ side too. They can now attract custom-
ers from around the globe without leaving their chair. Captain Glenn is quick
to point out that “fifteen years ago, you’d have to sit on the pier and wait for
customers who walk by to get a charter. 99% of our business is done through
the internet nowadays.”