ARUBA on the move…
The Aruba Destination:
Aruba's
economy is extremely stable and efficient business environment with modern
infrastructure and excellent telecommunications. Special fiscal incentives are
offered to both companies engaged in offshore activities and to companies
engaged in export of nontraditional manufactured products and which are
licensed to operate in the Free Zone.
The
residential and marina of Oranjestad Port (Aruba) is a master plan, published May, 2004 and
which includes the expansion projects at Oranjestad and Barcadera ports, that
include new cruise and mega yachts port facilities at Oranjestad Port as well
as the moving of the container traffic from Oranjestad to Barcadera.
The new 48
acre- Marina Village at Oranjestad Port undertaken with the primary
objective of creating a waterfront place of great character and quality which
will be attractive to live in, shop in and visit. The Marina Village will be a
mixed-use development with all the services and amenities that provide for the
local residential community, as well as cruise ship passengers and visitors to
the area. As a key to creating a lively and vibrant waterfront village, there
are between 300-350 residential units varying in size and type, and over 10,000
square meters of commercial and retail space.
The focus is to create an urban waterfront that
will be visually, physically and functionally integrated with the surrounding
areas and current and future port functions. Enclosing the marina basin and serving
as protection for he harbor, a new residential "island" is included
in the plan. This new island is connected to the mainland by a bridged
connection and is envisioned to contain larger, more exclusive residences. The
island includes 55-apartments, 25 townhouses, a community pool, social hall,
yacht club and private marina.
The Marina Village will not only bolster the
economy of the waterfront but also to provide public access to the water and to
create linkages back to existing neighborhoods, historic downtown Oranjestad
and the new cruise ship terminal. This will create the opportunity for more
cruise ships as Aruba's popularity as the destination of choice for cruise
ships operating in the Southern Caribbean Sea continues to grow. The estimated
cost of the construction of the available land, including the urbanization,
would represent an investment of USD 145.9 millions while the forecasted cost
of the mega yacht marina would totalize USD 14.8 millions, before the inclusion
of project fees. The total estimated area to be constructed is 140,000 square
meters. The forecasted sale price is SD 2,500/ square meters.
Additionally a certain amount of the investments
that are needed in other areas are:
The
initiative of Hon. Ing. Edison Briesen, Minister of Tourism and Transport is
notable with the new project, the Sunrise Coast Comprehensive Plan
designed by the Sasaki Associates group to develop the San Nicolas area.
The plan includes the coaster preserve and the Destination Golf.
The plan
involves construction of a new roads, the construction of 3 new resorts, the
Colorado Point Hotel of 232 rooms, Baby Beach Hotel with 482 rooms, and Boca
Grandi Hotel with 378 rooms with a construction of 2 golf courses (each of 18
holes), the development of San Nicolas, and the development of the Seroe
Colorado area (Colony) into a world-class residential and condominium area. In
addition there will be a development of Boca Grandi community Park and
Restoration Area.
Morgan’s Island Aruba Aqua Park, will be newest and largest
water park in the Caribbean and Latin America.
It will
be built along the Eagle Beach south of La Cabana Casino in between Sasakiweg
(highway) and the hospital, taking up 70,000 square meters and will feature a
Caribbean pirate theme.
Special
features will include wild water rafting, roller coasters, 24 meter Kamikaze
ride (the highest in the world), Black Hole waterslide, tidal Pool, tube rides,
kiddies pools and a marine pool for diving, a shopping mall, a restaurant
complex and more. Investors are the Financial Value, an investment company in
Venezuela and Impact Holding, a local company. Expected to open in early 2006.
The Aruba Airport Authority (AAA)
announced an airport face-lift. The parking lot will be totally redesigned in
order to be user-friendlier. The public parking will be right in front of the
terminal where the car rentals are currently located, greatly reducing the
distance to the terminal. The car rentals will go where the public parking is
currently located. Pay booths will be restructured and visitors will be able to
pay with Aruban florins, US dollars and also credit cards. The renovations will
allow for a 50% capacity increase. Completion of the 1st phase is
scheduled for the end of January 2005.
Airlift in Aruba is increasing
homeport prospects. Air traffic is increasing with the new and additional
service out of Newark, NJ, Boston, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport,
Miami, and Minneapolis.
Additionally Aruba closed an agreement with the
Brazilian aviation, Ecuatoriana De Aviacion and Linea Aereo Boliviano with
itinerary including Santa Cruz – Bolivia- Manaus – Aruba – Miami. Effective
January 2005 the itinerary will include Bolivia – Manaus – Madrid where the
Government of Aruba requested for Aruba to be included in the route. This will
create additional opportunity to reach Aruba, besides flying out of Amsterdam,
the Netherlands on KLM. Brazil has been re-launched with a weekly Varig flight.
The airlift to and from Aruba increased by 10%,
which makes this island easily accessible increasing the opportunity for home
porting.
Fitch affirms ‘BBB’ Foreign Currency Rating of
Aruba. Hon. Nilo Swaen, Aruba’s Minister of Finance and Economic
Affairs confirmed the BBB rating for Aruba, which is an investment grade rating
meaning that Aruba has a sound and stable economy, trustworthy internationally.
Fitch recognizes Aruba’s high GDP per capita, political stability, and sound
financial center.
The outlook was assigned last year in light of steady fiscal deterioration and rising government indebtedness. General government debt has risen from 28.5% of GDP in 2000 to 42.3% at end-2003, although the repayment of external contingent liabilities accounted for nearly 40% of the increase, and was resourcefully handled by the government. Over the last year the government has made some progress in laying the groundwork for future fiscal consolidation.
The implementation of stricter cost controls, an
expanded income basis for contributions, and ongoing negotiations on specialist
compensation for the universal health care scheme is expected to secure fiscal
savings of 0.3-0.5% of GDP in 2004. Planned regularization of government
arrears to APFA (pension fund), which would reduce outstanding arrears by 6.6%
of GDP, will be implemented, while the government has sharply reduced its
current liabilities to trade creditors. Yet it is important to note that Aruba
has never incurred arrears with institutional creditors.
A market-friendly institutional environment
supports Aruba’s creditworthiness and a long track record of macroeconomic
stability supported by a credible pegged exchange rate and stable banking
sector.
The government has stabilized the economy with its
currency linked to the US dollar. GDP growth is nominally five percent, with
inflation at three percent. Recent developments supporting Aruba’s
creditworthiness include enhancement of the central bank’s supervisory
capacity, and more rigorous directives for financial sector regulation. Net
external debt levels, while rising, appear moderate and below ‘BBB’ median.
Further progress in health care and APFA reforms to
yield a material record of consolidation would be desirable. While the strong
return of tourism in 2004 will help boost government receipts, public
expenditures could still come under pressure ahead of 2005 elections. Fitch
would also favorably view a return to primary balance, which would help
stabilize government indebtedness, as well as further progress in resolving
outstanding arrears.
The
Government of Aruba passed the law of Ship-and Aircraft security ordinance on
June 24, 2004. The law includes relevant aspects delineated by the
International Ship & Port facility Security (ISPS) code.
The
undertaken security measurements are being put in place, in accordance with the
Port Facility Security Plan (PFSP), which was designed in compliance with the
recommendations given by a Recognized Security Organization, outlined in their
Port Facility Security Assessment (PFSA). The Aruba Ports Authority is
executing major related projects to increase and or maintain the security
standard at the facilities.
Aruba’s
cruise and cargo/ free zone ports are both in total compliance to the ISPS
code.
The Port
and Ship Facility Office and the Company Ship Security Office went through the
process of signing the declaration.
The government
approved also the purchase of additional screening machines to be placed at
specific checkpoints, which were installed early August at the airport, “Reina Beatrix Aeropuerto Internacional.”
Now,
Aruba’s airport is also in compliance with new US safety airport standards set
by Transportation Security Administration (TSA.)
With
these additional security measurements, and located outside the hurricane zone
Aruba is welcoming you to spend your break from the ordinary in Aruba.
The
Aruba Cruise Tourism introduced the main feature for Aruba’s conversion
program, which is a “Welcome Back” Refrigerator magnet to invite the cruise
guests back to Aruba. This unique gift item will be distributed in the cruise
terminal by well-trained staff and will have an everlasting presence of over
300,000 households.
With
this program Aruba hopes to enhance the experience and the efforts of the
F.C.C.A. and Aruba, to convert the cruise passengers into land-based
vacationers.
Upon
disembarkation cruise guests will be welcomed on local island rhythms in a safe
and hospitable atmosphere.
The
cruise passengers are encouraged to explore the island’s wonders, because Aruba
has over twenty suggestions on how to spend a day in Aruba. This will serve as
an “introduction” to the cruise guests, who will return on another holiday.
The
Welcome back refrigerator magnet has two simple steps to adhere to; one – visit
the web site www.arubabycruise.com,
and two – click on Welcome Back for special offers.
This
endeavor creates a synergy between the public and private sector, which the
Government of Aruba stimulates. With this program, Aruba hopes to act as an
incentive to this important and valuable market.
According
to the island survey, approximately 30% of the cruise guests visiting Aruba
expressed the intention to return to Aruba.
The FCCA
and Aruba are very optimistic that this program will be well perceived among
the visitors and that the island will reap its benefits.
The Aruba Cruise Tourism is proud to announce that just recently
the Aruba DVD movie; the new value was added on their official global web site.
The Aruba DVD is available in different format and can be viewed
on Win or MAC, in order to serve all interested parties at the very best, no
matter your computer settings. This is to add value to the new “Welcome Back”
program Aruba has in place for her valuable cruise guests, when they surf the
web.
The Aruba Cruise Tourism distributes as a gift to all arriving
cruise guests a free Aruba refrigerator magnet, welcoming them back to the
island for a future holiday.
This program started in late April of 2004 and is proven to have a
success in distribution of the magnets as well as viewers visiting the web
site. The web site not only promotes special offers and services to this
significant market to Aruba, but provides also information on how to spend your
days in Aruba. The web site is user friendly and in two simple clicks you will
have information at your fingertips.
The reaction of the cruise guests receiving the refrigerator
magnet is impressive and Aruba is keeping up with the demand.
Unique Innovative concept on how
to spend your day while in port is vital to the cruise guest experience. Aruba has created a suggestion
list of over 20 ways to spend the day in Aruba.
This
unique creation evolved with the cruise guests in mind, who are in time limit
to see and do it all.
By
offering suggestions, the guests will feel more at home and able to make up
their mind on ways to spend the day with all comfort. Aruba values the cruise
guests and do want them to return to Aruba.
Aruba
Cruise Tourism, the new corporate identity for the former Cruise Tourism Authority is in the works. The council of Ministers approved on October 12, 2004 the re-establishment of the Aruba Tourism Authority and the Aruba Cruise Tourism as two separate government entities.
With
this decision new challenges will face the Directorate of Aruba Cruise Tourism
and the goal is to strive to serve the cruise family at their best.
Concentration
will be on the new status, new corporate identity and the reform is currently
in process.
Aruba, only the best!
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