Aruba's Tourism Minister Steps Down

Aruba's minister of tourism, Otmar Oduber, resigned from his post on Nov. 3, according to the Aruba Tourism Authority.

In a statement, the tourism authority sought to reassure the tourism industry of the island's stability: "Please be assured the government is still intact and business is as usual. As our valued partner, you should know there is stability in the country and the tourism industry is thriving. There is no reason for concern, as it remains our mission to ensure Aruba's continued fruition."

The authority further said that the government was "in the process of appointing a replacement."

No reason for Oduber's resignation was given and there was no statement available from the Aruba Ministry of Tourism.

Oduber was the architect of the controversial law Aruba passed in August that restricts the number of all-inclusive hotel rooms on the island to no more than 40% of the room total, and an annual 20% cap on all-inclusive room nights sold by European Plan (EP) hotels, i.e. properties that do not generally include food and beverages in the room rates.

The law put the Aruban government at odds with Aruba's hotel trade group as well as the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, which opposed the law.