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A14 LOCAL
Tuesday 25 april 2017

Happiness Index Study Identifies Aruba as Happiest Island In The World

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