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Tuesday 6 March 2018

Time Share Tourism Significant Social Value for Aruba

ORANJESTAD – With hurri- ment Conference by invi- large time share segment of the conference it be- 2016 ARDA American Re-
cane Irma passing through tation of one of the main and what happened after came clear that globally sort Development Associa-
St. Maarten the main eco- sponsors of this event: Inter- the disaster was that time visitors wish to contribute tion) in 2015. The numbers
nomic pillar of the island val International. This com- share owners went back as to the local community show an increase of 11.5%
was severely damaged: pany sets up programs for soon as possible. Not only while on vacation. There compared to the previous
tourism. The time share memberships and provides to see what happened to is a need of having social year, 2014. Globally there
owners did not think twice services for her clients, time their time share accommo- value to the destination are almost 5,400 time share
and went to ‘their island’ to share owners, worldwide. dation, but also to help the and do something for a resorts, divided over 121
give a helping hand. This Interval International has island and especially the good cause. The message countries with more than
is a phenomenon that was 32,000 time share resorts local people. This shows of the session presented to 527,000 accommodations.
highlighted various times in her portfolio, spread out that this segment of tour- the participants, consisting The growth of this market
during the 19th Interna- over 80 countries world- ism also has a social value of many time share own- is an average of 5% from
tional Shared Ownership wide. for destinations, besides ers, time share sellers, time 2013 on. Worldwide the
Investment Conference at the economic contribution. share promoters and time occupation rate is 76% in
Miami in October 2017 to One of the striking points There is a strong bonding share developers, was that 2014, also increased to 79%
indicate the importance of that came out during the between the time share volunteer tourism can be a in 2015. In 2017 there were
this segment of the tourism different sessions is the loy- owner and the destination tool for sales and promo- 91 new time share resorts
industry: time share. alty of the time share own- with regards to the local in- tion/marketing. opened (7,300 accommo-
er to the destination, refer- habitants, local community dations).
Aruba Today and Bon Dia ring to St Maarten after hur- and environment. Worldwide time share rev-
were both present dur- ricane Irma destroyed the enue was set for 20 billion
ing the 19th International island on a large scale. St. Global Developments Dollars (based on the last Continued on Page 14
Shared Ownership Invest- Maarten likely Aruba has a During the general session numbers from the report