Page 34 - ATA

A14 LOCAL
Monday 5 March 2018

40 years of Time Share: Aruba Shows World Leader Role from Beginning

ORANJESTAD – The Univer- 2017.
sity of Aruba (UvA) together
with Aruba Tourism Author- The effect of time share on
ity (ATA) and Aruba Time- our economy turns out to
share Association (ATSA) be 20% of the GDP (Gross
recently organized a con- Domestic Product). Both
ference where not only the the inventory of time share
celebration of 40 years of rooms as well as the quan-
the time share industry in tity of visitors/owners of
Aruba took place, but also weeks for time share are
important research infor- stable. Aruba represents
mation was shared, carried the highest percentage
out by students of the Fac- of repeated visitors in the
ulty of Hospitality and Tour- region of the Caribbean,
ism Management Studies time share owners are
(FHTMS). One of the most the biggest contributors
appreciated persons in our to this fact. The category
time share industry sector where to belong the time
and tourism in general, Jan share owner is called the
van Nes, was honored dur- ‘baby boomer’ (65 years
ing the interesting event. old and up). Many bring
along their families and all
President of ATSA, Ursell together contribute to our
Arends, mentioned during economy. Another interest-
his dynamic speech that ing fact that was shown by
there is a new role for the the research is that almost
social aspect within the who launched a complete students are the next gen- generation. all Time Share owners visit
time share sector, among new foundation, called eration and they are need- our island for over 10 years.
others to strengthen bonds Happy Community Fund. ed in the sector of tourism. Time Share & Local Econo- They feel that Aruba is their
with the Red Cross and Among others they will However, a lot of students my second home and praise
stimulate sports for young contribute to an affordable express that they find work- CEO of ATA, Ronella Tjin the friendly locals and
children and teens within and quality children’s care ing in tourism unattractive Asjoe-Croes, presented in- beautiful beaches.
football club SV Britannia. for locals. Last but not least due to the long hours and formation and data that
The coming five years ATSA ATSA works together with working on weekends/holi- showcase the importance University Research
will support these organiza- the university and supports days. He states that it is sig- of the time share industry in A group of students of the
tions. There is also a new them with funds for educa- nificant for the time share Aruba. The concept of time university Faculty of Hospi-
collaboration with Centro tion. sector to focus on this fact share started in the island tality and Tourism Manage-
pa Desaroyo Aruba (CEDE) and make the work more in 1977 with Aruba Beach ment Studies (FHTMS) car-
Arends emphasizes that the appealing to the young Club as pioneer, followed ried out profound research
by Playa Linda Beach Re- with regards to the time
sort and many others in share industry under the
the 80’s and 90’s. Time guidance of Professor Rob-
share visitors cover 26% of in di Pietro (University South
the total stayover visitors Carolina) and deacon
in Aruba during the last 20 John Warlaw. The outcome
years between 1977 and was presented by the pro-
2017. The average growth fessor and showed that the
of the industry was 3.4% (5% majority of the tourists in
worldwide from 2013). With Aruba are in the age cat-
regards to the affluent visi- egory of 50-years-old and
tors, specifically those com- up. The motive for visitors
ing from the United States, to purchase a time share
it can be stated that there is the satisfaction with the
was a growth of 5.7% in resort they are staying in. A
2017 compared to the year time share owner shows re-
before. The market share peated visits to the island:
of this group counts for 57% 70% is coming for over 10
of the total visitors coming years to the island with an
to Aruba between 2013 average stay of 12,5 days.
– 2017, meaning that we
have an average increase Continued on Page 16
of 4% between 2013 and