At the end of September 2024, the Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) released the results of the “Local Sentiment” survey. The findings revealed that 68% of participants recognize tourism as a key driver of the economy, with 75% of those working directly in the hospitality sector expressing satisfaction with the industry. A positive rating was given by 68% of respondents, with an average score of 3.9 on a scale of 1 to 5. However, 32% of participants voiced concerns, mainly related to the number of tourists, access to affordable housing, pressure on infrastructure, uneven distribution of economic benefits, and environmental impact. The survey included a broad range of ages, with significant participation from Millennials (35%) and Gen X (35%). Among the respondents, 82% were employed at the time of the survey, 70% were between the ages of 28 and 59, and 47% held higher education degrees.
A.T.A. has been taking proactive steps to redefine the tourism model, focusing more on “Responsible Tourism” and ultimately shifting toward “Regenerative Tourism.” The actions taken will align with these goals, aspiring for Aruba to progress and position itself as a leader in sustainable and responsible tourism practices for future generations. Several changes have already been announced, and further efforts will continue to be communicated.
A.T.A. also expressed pride in the significant progress made in the tourism sector. Aruba continues to be one of the top destinations in the Caribbean, with high demand and a strong position in the market. However, it’s acknowledged that Aruba is at a critical juncture, and the changing global sentiment toward tourism needs to be considered. The negative impact of excessive tourism on host communities and the natural environment is a reality, and Aruba is not immune to this global trend.
A.T.A. remains committed to improving and maintaining efforts to achieve a balance, following the High Value-Low Impact model, which focuses on four key pillars: ‘Quality of Life for Residents,’ ‘Visitor Experience Quality,’ ‘Environmental Protection & Preservation,’ and ‘Economic Contribution to the Island.’ The aim is to attract visitors who will invest more in the island while being conscious and appreciative of Aruba’s culture, nature, land, water, people, and economy.
TOURISM INDUSTRY STATISTICS: SEPTEMBER 2024 UPDATE
Positive “Stayover” Volume Growth of 16.4% in September 2024 Compared to September 2023.
Driven by strong demand, airline capacity is expected to continue expanding, allowing Aruba to capture even more travelers. In September 2024, Aruba welcomed a total of 98,285 “stayover” visitors, marking a 5.7% increase compared to September 2023, when 90,161 “stayover” visitors were recorded.
Markets and Accommodation Categories
In September 2024, 75.2% of the total “stayover” visitors came from North America, 6.1% from Europe, 15.9% from Latin America, and 2.8% from other parts of the world. Looking at the different accommodation categories, in September 2024, 24% of visitors stayed in European Plan hotels, 18.4% in All-Inclusive hotels, 26.7% in Timeshares, and 30.9% opted for other accommodations, known as short-term vacation rentals.
Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVR)
A.T.A. has access to a platform that tracks the number of houses, apartments, and villas used as vacation rentals, as well as average nightly rates, occupancy, and revenue generated. In 2023, a study allowed A.T.A. to update the inventory of existing condominiums and those under development, along with a revised list of non-hotel accommodations available to short-term tourists.
Comparing September 2024 to September 2023, the average occupancy rate for these accommodations rose by 4.1 percentage points, from an average of 42.7% in September 2023 to 46.8% in September 2024.
In terms of revenue, however, there was a slight decrease of -1.5% when comparing September 2023 to September 2024.
Short-Term Vacation Rentals – Overview
Year Occupancy Revenue ADR
2019 42% 4,831,717 152
2020 29% 3,592,950 165
2021 44% 7,805,075 195
2022 38% 9,037,264 200
2023 43% 14,975,477 245
2024 47% 14,743,497 235
2024 Year-to-Date
Up until September 2024, Aruba had received a total of 1,082,471 “stayover” visitors, reflecting a 16.4% growth compared to the same period in 2023, when 930,157 “stayover” visitors were recorded. As for the leading markets, up until September 2024, 80.2% of visitors were from North America, 4.7% from Europe, 12.6% from Latin America, and 2.5% from other regions of the world.
Source: Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA)
