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locAl Friday 19 June 2020
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Conservative and gradual recovery expected

ORANJESTAD — The Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association has published the cupancy recovery (if the border opens on June 15th):
latest hotel performance data (last update May 19) showing the crisis’
effect on 2020 tourism so far. April’s 0 occupancy has affected the aver-
age for the first 4 months of the year as follows:

Occupancy: At 34.8 points lower than the same period in 2019, the 2020 During the recovery period most companies shall experience higher cost
year-to-date average occupancy rate is 53.6%. than income levels. The government’s salary subsidy program offers relief
ADR: The average daily rate (for occupied rooms) is 6.5% higher than the as long as it is available. Reality remains that the crisis does not end when
same period last year, at $359.14. the lockdown ends. Many companies are not able to survive at the low
RevPAR: The revenue per available room is $192.38 year-to-date, a 35.4% levels of income that will be experienced for the months ahead. Some
reduction. will need to restructure to survive and some will need to close their doors
A month further into the COVID-19 crisis AHATA’s projection for the rest of permanently.
2020 has become more conservative. The situation is still unprecedented For the reopening of Aruba’s borders, AHATA has recommended strict
with very little confirmed information to count on. However, considering entry requirements to help reduce the number of imported COVID-19
the current view of the situation in the United States, the fact that fewer cases. It is impossible to escape importation of new cases; however, a
people will travel prior to introduction of a vaccine, immense financial substantial limitation would help minimize the size of a second wave and
effects on individuals, and the turmoil in the airline industry, AHATA has consequently its impact on our healthcare infrastructure. AHATA is of
updated its forecast. the opinion that Aruba must do its utmost to avoid a second lockdown,
At this point, AHATA expects the following trajectory for Aruba’s hotel oc- which would cause more economic damage than the first one. q

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — In these difficult times we would like to reach out to our
friends abroad who were supposed to spend their tropical vacation
on Aruba or who had to break up their vacation due to the COVID-19
situation. Aruba Today invites you to send us your picture and words
expressing your memory of our island or your dream vacation for the
future. Now that borders are opening again we hope to welcome you
soon.

Send us your picture(s) together with completing the sentence: Aruba
to me is …….. (Email: news@arubatoday.com). Please do note: By sub-
mitting photos, text or any other materials, you give permission to The
Aruba Today newspaper, Caribbean Speed Printers and any of its af-
filiated companies to use said materials, as well as names, likeness, etc.
for promotional purposes without compensation.

Today we share a wonderful message from Joseph Dicellis. He sent us
some amazing pictures with the words:

“Paradise discovered ….. Aruba to me is God's signature after he made
the world. Aruba means to me the everlasting light shining on me.” q