Page 15 - AHATA Oct 24 2020

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Saturday 24 OctOber 2020

Aruba reports it received 14,697 stopover arrivals in September

ORANJESTAD — According to The number of visitors from the
the Aruba Tourism Authority, USA declined by 74.2% com-
Aruba saw the volume of stop- pared with September 2020,
over arrivals fall from 73,628 falling from 52,401 in Septem-
stopovers in September 2019 ber 2019 to 13,535 this year. In
to 14,697 in September of this the first nine months of 2020
year, which is to 20.0% of the Aruba saw a 67.7% decrease
total achieved in September in the number of stopover visi-
2019. tors, falling from 848,841 visi-
tors in 2019 to 273,790 visitors
The number of stopovers re- this year. The number of stop-
ceived in September was overs from the USA declined
down 15.6% compared with by 66.5% during the first nine
August 2020. Aruba received months, from 638,459 in 2019
17,420 stopovers in August to 213,985 through September
2020 and 12,921 in July 2020. 2020. There were no cruise visi-
Aruba reopened its borders to tors in September as the island
traffic from the Dutch Caribbe- remained closed to cruise
an as of June 15th, to Canada traffic. Through the first nine
and Europe as of July 1st and months of 2020 the number of
from the USA as of July 10th. cruise visitors to Aruba fell by
Of the 14,697 total stopovers 52.9%, from 555,525 visitors in
received in September 92.1% 2019 to 255,384 cruise visitors
were from the USA, with 5.3% this year. Source: tourismana-
(784) coming from Europe. lytics.com. q

Exploring the Mainstreet of San Nicolas

SAN NICOLAS — At Just 11 Industry, the Community ucation or enjoyment.
miles southeast from Oran- Museum and the Carnival Carnival Euphoria is show-
jestad you will enter the city Euphoria, all within walking casing Aruba’s Carnival.
San Nicolas, also known as distance from one another. See how are Carnival has
Sunrise City or Chocolate The Museum of Industry is developed over the past
City. A city that is rich in situated in the Water Tower 65 years.
authentic culture and is- in San Nicolas and narrates
land charm. San Nicolas is Aruba’s industrial history The new San Nicolas
Aruba’s second largest city which began in the 19th In the shadow of the refin-
and was once a bustling century. Here you will learn ery, an art capital is quietly
company town dominated about gold, aloe, phos- beginning to grow. This is
by the oil industry since the phate, oil and the tourism the new San Nicolas, a
early 1930’s. industries which made San place that is starting to be-
Nicolas once a bustling come a magnet for all that
Over the course of four de- business center. Experi- is young, cool and hip in
cades, its demographics ence the touching stories Aruba. Indeed, San Nicolas
had changed immensely of those who were part of has all of the ingredients of
due to a stream of Afro-Ca- this history. an emerging cultural hub
ribbean and South Ameri- Nicolaas Store built in 1940 — varied history, interesting
can workers who came and renovated in 2014 is architecture, and, perhaps
to fill the jobs in the oil re- the home of the Communi- most importantly, an urban
finery between the 1920’s ty Museum. The collection is layout that makes it walk-
until the 1960’s. To this day remarkable and spans mil- able. As you walk around, and more stunning murals can immerse yourself in dis-
traces of the multicultural lennia. Ancient fossils stand the streets are silent but are replacing broken down covering genuine and lo-
influences in culinary offer- next to tableaus of an au- the walls are loud, filled buildings with colorful art cally made arts and crafts
ings and customs, housing thentically recreated colo- with bright, colorful murals pieces that keep brighten- which reflect the diversifi-
and population are clearly nial kitchen and bedroom painted by a collection ing up Sunrise City. cation of the Aruban craft
visible in San Nicolas – more and 19th-century barber- of artists from around the heritage and the artistic
than anywhere else on the shop, just to name a few of world. Thanks to the efforts Must See, Do, Buy & Eat supply of artisans. Don’t
island. the items of old-time Aruba of various art organizations A little bit of everything can miss out on trying the exqui-
that has been preserved. A in Aruba, such as Art Rules be found in the main street. site food offered by the ca-
Flow of history collection of artifacts and Aruba and Aruba Art Fair, Stores selling shoes, cloth- fes and restaurants or just
if you are looking for his- other objects of artistic, cul- San Nicolas has had quite ing, jewelry you name it. enjoy a peaceful walk ad-
tory San Nicolas has it. Here tural, historical, or scientific the aesthetic makeover Arts & crafts by Cosecha miring the murals, mosaic
you will find three amazing importance can be found with regards to vibrant store & Creative Center, a benches and all the history
museums, The Museum of here for the purpose of ed- street art. Each year more design store in which you San Nicolas has to offer.q