Page 9 - CMB

A14 LOCAL
Monday 25 February 2019

Aruba tourism authority honors goodwill ambassadors Mr. & Mrs. Strandberg:

“Aruba is therapeutic to us”

OrAnjestAd - recently, Aruba
tourism Authority had the great
pleasure of honoring loyal visitors to
Aruba as Goodwill Ambassadors.
this particular certificate of
‘Goodwill Ambassador’ is presented
to guests who consecutively visit
Aruba for 20 years or more.

The honorees were Neil and Michele
Strandberg from Long Island,
New York and have been visiting
our destination for over 25 years
together with their five children.
Upon the question “Why Aruba?”
their answer was straight forward:
“We have appointed Aruba as
a ‘therapeutic’ destination from
the first time we landed on this
beautiful and friendly island”.

One of the many reasons for their
yearly returning is the hospitality
they receive from the people
they met for so many years, which
makes them feel more like Arubans
and less like tourists.
has to offer as well as different on- Chairperson of the Board Mrs. to certificate the honorees.
They stated that Aruba is one island activities. Marieta Ras, Visitor Care Liaison
of the friendliest and happiest Ms. Marouska Heyliger and Intern They were acknowledged for
destinations they visited so far. From the Aruba Tourism Authority, Communications Ms. Sharicia choosing Aruba as their favorite
While on vacation, they enjoy the Destination Services Manager Mr. Hasham, a special Goodwill vacation destination and as their
gastronomic variety that Aruba Patrick Melchiors together with Ambassador Award was presented ‘home away from home’.q
Tourism drives rise in net foreign assets

summary of the Monthly Bulletin of december 2018

sector was caused by a Furthermore, by excluding
decline in gross claims (-Afl. the effect of food and
14.0 million) and a rise in energy, the core CPI grew
government deposits (+Afl. by 2.8 percent (YOY).
33.1 million). The 12-month average
inflation rate was 3.6
The increase in the net percent in December 2018,
foreign assets of the compared to 3.2 percent in
banking sector resulted November 2018.
from net purchases of
foreign exchange from the Government
public (+Afl. 334.8 million), Total government revenue
mainly associated with amounted to Afl. 144.1
foreign exchange revenue million in December 2018,
from tourism exports. This Afl. 13.8 million less than
was partially offset by net the same month of the
sales of foreign exchange previous year. This outcome
to the public (-Afl. 262.8 resulted from a decline in
Monetary the money supply was the private sector (-Afl. 1.1 million), related mostly to non-tax revenue (-Afl. 13.9
developments due to a reduction in million). payments for goods. million), while tax revenue
Compared to November domestic credit (-Afl. 48.2 remained unchanged.
2018, money supply million) and an increase Claims of the banking Inflation The latter resulted mainly
expanded in December in the non-credit related sector on the private The consumer price index from an increase in income
2018 by Afl. 24.3 million to balance sheet items (+Afl. sector contracted due to (CPI) for December 2018 from turnover tax (+Afl.
Afl. 4,376.9 million, due to 0.5 million). The decline decreases in consumer noted a 4.6 percent 9.3 million; introduction of
a rise in net foreign assets in domestic credit was credits (-Afl. 6.4 million) increase year-over- the B.A.V.P as opposed to
(+Afl. 72.0 million), which the result of a drop in net and business loans (-Afl. year (YOY). The main the same month in 2017),
was largely offset by a claims of the banking 0.4 million), while housing contributors to this rise which was mainly offset
decrease in net domestic sector on the public sector mortgages increased (+Afl. were the components by decreases in income
assets (-Afl. 47.7 million). (-Afl. 47.1 million), and to a 5.0 million). The drop in “Food and Non-Alcoholic from land (-Afl. 3.9 million)
The contraction in the lesser extent, by less claims net claims of the banking Beverages”, “Transport” and transfer taxes (-Afl. 3.5
domestic component of of the banking sector on sector on the public and “Communication”. million).q