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Monday 24 October 2016
Happiness Index Study Identifies Aruba as Happiest Island In The World
ORANJESTAD - New re- soul of Aruba and ensure and Aruba Tourism Author- for instance, inspire quality university has conducted
search suggests the “One the quality tourism experi- ity use to perpetuate lo- time with loved ones and around the world, Aruba
happy island” of Aruba is ence that has defined our cal happiness. Island-wide personal fulfillment, which has been one of the most
the happiest island in the destination,” said Ronella wellness initiatives and locals value most. compelling islands to make
world, relative to size. Fol- Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of downtown developments “Among all the destina- inquiries about quality of
lowing a 5-year Happiness Aruba Tourism Authority. including the Linear Park, tion research projects our life and happiness,” said
Index study conducted in “We evaluate the success Dr. Manuel Rivera of UCF.
partnership between Aru- of our tourism not only by “Throughout the course
ba Tourism Authority and its tangible benefits, but of our studies we’ve con-
the Rosen College of Hospi- also by intangible benefits firmed Aruba’s people are
tality Management at the including local happiness generally happy with their
University of Central Florida and life satisfaction, as quality of life as well as with
– results confirm 78 percent that directly impacts visitor the imperative connection
of the Aruban population happiness.” between the destination
is happy, while 76 percent While the study reveals and tourism.
also express longer-term Aruba’s tourism is not Happiness in Aruba can
satisfaction with life. the main driver of hap- be seen as a self-fulfilling
When compared to the piness, the successful in- cycle, tourism develop-
2016 World Happiness Re- dustry brings satisfaction ment drives happiness for
port, commissioned by the to the local people and the residents which in turn
United Nations to measure yields material benefits/ results in happy tourists.”
the happiness index of 157 resources the government As the exclusive Caribbean
larger countries, Aruba’s island to measure its happi-
results rank higher than ness index, Aruba encour-
No. 1 Denmark at approxi- ages nations of all sizes to
mately 75.3 percent. follow suit.
“It’s important to note that “It is important to measure
while other Caribbean is- the success of a country
lands are included in the beyond economic indica-
World Happiness Report, tors and to make happi-
Aruba is the first and only ness and well-being an in-
Caribbean island to ever tegral part of our national
measure its own happiness dialogue and intent,” said
index,” said Dr. Robertico Otmar Oduber, Aruba
Croes of UCF. Minister of Tourism, Trans-
“Over the past five years, portation, Primary Sector
we’ve collected a sig- and Culture. “We would
nificant 2,000 surveys, also like to see prestigious
stratified across four core World Ranking Reports to
groups in Aruba, and have incorporate ‘small island
seen the desired stability in development states’ such
the island’s happiness lev- as our One happy island, in
els.” its studies.”
Aruba’s famous brand – Aruba’s approach to hap-
One happy island – has piness already has caught
been around, with some the attention and support
interruptions, for nearly 40 of The United Nations World
years. But for Aruba, happi- Tourism Organization.
ness is more than a trendy “We’ve reviewed the re-
subject or tagline; it’s an sults of the study, which is in
inherit part of the island’s line with our methodology,
DNA that Aruba has com- and believe it merits atten-
mitted to studying since tion on a worldwide level,”
2011. said UNWTO Secretary-
“As the No. 2 most tourism- General,
reliant nation in the world, Taleb Rifai. “We would like
Aruba greatly values the to see this model applied
happiness of our local peo- across other Caribbean is-
ple – they are the heart and lands and worldwide.”q
