Positive First Meeting Among Cruise Partners in Aruba

The Aruba Cruise Tourism organized a one day work-session in the Emerald Room at the Aruba Radisson Resort & Casino, industry partners present included; the Aruba Ports Authority N.V., the Ministry of Tourism, Transportation and Labor, and S.E.L. Maduro & Sons. (the island’s largest ship agent) to discuss Aruba’s position as a cruise destination in the Southern Caribbean, Aruba as a cruise product and incentives for cruise ships to visit Aruba from May-September.

Mrs. Tamara Waldron-Director Aruba Cruise Tourism, Mr. Alfonso Boekhoudt-Director Aruba Ports Authority N.V., Mrs. Myrna Jansen-Senior Tourism Advisor/Ministry of Tourism, Transportation and Labor, Mr. Hans van Esveld-Managing Director of SEL Maduro & Sons and Mr. Graceo Dunlock -Shipping Manager of SEL Maduro & Sons made a list of recommendations to be presented to the Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor, Mr. Otmar Oduber.

Key suggestions included Aruba’s role as part of the Southern Caribbean cruise market, weaknesses in the market, the existing opportunities for Aruba, and the best approach to succeeding in the attempt to attract additional cruise calls to the Southern Caribbean region and to secure year-round cruise activity.

All those present agreed that a meeting like this was long overdue and agreed to meet on a monthly basis to discuss and work on strategies to guarantee the success of Aruba’s cruise industry on a short-term, medium-term and long-term basis. Other stakeholders will be invited to attend meetings to address their specific wants and needs.