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local Wednesday 28 september 2022
World Tourism Day,
A day to reflect on tourism and its impact around the world

Yesterday, Aruba celebrat- ruary opened very slowly
ed World Tourism Day at the because of the Omicron
Ballroom of the Marriott Ho- variant. However, Aruba
tel, where various leaders, recovered very quickly
stakeholders and interna- and currently is the sec-
tional experts in the tourism ond country in the world
sector held a meeting on with the best tourism recov-
the theme selected for this ery compared to the year
year, “Rethinking Tourism”. 2019.

Minister of Tourism and “For this reason we thank
Health, Mr. Dangui Odu- our partners today, but we
ber was in attendance. He also want to thank each
pointed out that yesterday person working in the tour-
was a special day for Aru- ism industry because they
ba, a moment to reflect on are our greatest asset as
the importance of tourism a country, because they
for the daily life, economy, deal with our guests every
culture, public finances, day”, he said.
progress and wellness of
Aruba. Also in attendance were
For this reason, every year students from the Hospital-
the ministry of Tourism to- ity and Tourism unit of EPI
gether with Aruba Tourism (Intermediate Professional
Authority (ATA) celebrates Education) and the Faculty coming from Europe to at- commented. that it has a positive future,
this day with the chosen of Tourism at the University tend the Aruba Meets Eu- but it is also sustainable in
theme. This year’s theme of Aruba, who participated rope Conference. Minister The day began with a re- the sense that we protect
selected by the United Na- in various discussion ses- Oduber commented that flection, dedicating time to our country and protect
tions World Tourism Organi- sions with experts in tourism, all tour operators have an two icons who laid the foun- our nature. That is the em-
zation is “Rethinking Tour- where they shared their ex- important task to help mar- dation for tourism in Aruba, phasis of this day”, La Sorte
ism”. periences about rethinking ket Aruba in Europe to at- namely Juancho Irausquin, expressed.
tourism. But for Oduber, as tract tourists from that con- and also ATA. They spoke
After the pandemic of Co- he mentioned, it is impor- tinent. At this conference about the future and what She also said that Aruba
vid-19, everyone had to tant to have a sustainable there will be the opportu- awaits, where Croes high- has shown during and after
think on how to reinvent development, that takes nity to exchange ideas and lighted the European part- the pandemic that we are
tourism and the strategies flora and fauna and the to learn from the vision and ners who were present at a very resilient island in tour-
that will be needed to re- environment into consid- strategy of other countries. the Aruba Meets Europe ism. “We have a very strong
cover the tourism industry, eration, and to guarantee Conference. product, people want to
which suffered greatly dur- that in the short term there Ronella Croes, CEO of come to Aruba and that
ing 2020 and 2021 because are jobs for the local popu- ATA, expressed that she There was also a sympo- helps us. Of course this
of restrictions related to the lation and the profession- feels satisfied and that this sium called Cruise Sympo- stays in our economy, and
pandemic. als currently studying at EPI is a moment to reflect on sium Aruba 2022, which is it is important for people
and the University of Aruba, the pandemic of the last an annual program, and to realize that it’s not only
Today, after more than two so they can have a career couple of years and what also took place yesterday the client working in tourism
years, minister Oduber as- in the industry. was achieved, “because with the goal of working to- who benefits from tourism.
sures that they are very sat- that fills you with a lot of gether on the quality of ex- Everyone in Aruba, and
isfied with how tourism has This week there are differ- pride. Mainly on this occa- isting product and services other companies that ex-
recovered in Aruba, and ent presentations and con- sion, ATA puts everything and those which can still ist, are the reason why we
they project that in 2022, ferences taking place with on a timeline and all those be offered to our visitors. have a strong economy
Aruba will recover 100% of a diverse group of experts achievements make you which is productive and
tourism, despite the fact from Aruba and abroad. look back on everything Tisa LaSorte, CEO of Aruba creates more jobs. This is
that last January and Feb- There are different people that was done”, Croes Hotel and Tourism Associa- why tourism remains impor-
tion (AHATA) was also pres- tant”, she said.
ent at this conference, and
she explained that a lot Regarding challenges that
of emphasis is put on the we are currently facing,
theme of Rethinking Tour- LaSorte highlighted that it
ism, in order to remind ev- is important to ensure that
eryone that it is important the product remains fresh
to ensure that the success and new, because now
of tourism has positive ef- that the pandemic is be-
fects for the entire country. hind us, it means that other
This means that it must have countries are also open
positive effects on people, again, not only Aruba. This
that it protects nature, and means that there is more
that the industry itself is sus- competition, and we need
tainable. to ensure that there are in-
centives to provide a high
“The word sustainability quality product and a high
means different things. It quality service.
is sustainable in the sense