The members of the Aruba Timeshare Association, ATSA, convened for a lunch-meeting at La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino with representatives of most of the island’s Vacation Ownership properties, in attendance.
The Food & Beverage team of La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino prepared an exceptionally varied and tasty lunch menu, paired with the resort’s signature gracious service and hospitality.
ATSA’s President, Luigi Heredia, Costa Linda Beach Resort, welcomed members just before officially opening the meeting. In his remarks he noted that: “The timeshare industry has evolved significantly in the last few decades to become an attractive vacation option for younger customers, and the results speak for themselves. Today’s timeshare products allow for flexibility, owners clearly enjoy these options and continue to rate “overall flexibility” and “exchange opportunities” as their top reasons for purchasing a timeshare.”
Heredia then continued that ATSA is honored to welcome distinguish Minister Glenbert Croes, Ministry of Labor, Energy and Integration who will be sharing information on labor, and representatives of Minister Dangui Oduber, the Minister of Tourism and Public Health who will give an update on the proposed Hotel & Restaurant Permit Process and Fees; also update the forum on the progress of TPEF. ATSA would also like to welcome from the Aruba Hotel and Security Foundation, Dylan Molina and Patrick Melchiors who will give insights on initiatives for Tourism Security Patrol. Minister Glenbert Croes, then made a presentation regarding the island’s updated Admission Policy and covered strategies and initiatives related to the labor shortage challenge on Aruba.
He pledged improve collaboration between government departments such as DIMAS and DPL, in charge of immigration and labor. The minister talked at length about the exceptions granted to waiting job applicants, the changes in family reunifications, the changes in work permit application process, the introduction of a multiyear option, and the current tariff structure. At the end of the presentation a lively Q & A session followed.
While the minister of Tourism & Public Health excused himself from the meeting due to unforeseen circumstances his office representatives went on to introduce the proposed HORECA permit fees and the creation of a new authority in charge of permit issuance and supervision under the Licensing
Regulation. This new central supervisory body, the Aruba Quality & Hospitality Authority, AQHA, will be specifically responsible for quality control and enforcement. It will be a semi-public Sui Generis, also in charge of vacation rental permits, lodging, hotels, and restaurants, from start of finish, a one stop shop.
Since the AQHA must be self-sufficient, the question of fees will be revisited, before the launch of the program, in the first quarter of 2024.
Another welcomed update involved the Aruba Hospitality and Security Foundation, AH& SF, now home to the Tourism Security Patrol Aruba, TSPA. According to Dylan Molina & Patrick Melchiors, the AH& SF was founded by AHATA in 2001 to support safety and security in the tourism zone. It was financed by the Aruba Tourism Authority, with funds generated from the tourism levy and was run by tourism partners, such as AHATA, ATA, ATSA, ATIA and the Aruba police Corp. Now with the help of Cameleon Associates the Tourism Security Patrol Aruba will be created to increase visibility of law enforcement in the areas of Palm Beach & Eagle Beach. Cameleon Associates will also help train private security professionals and continue training the public ones to enhance the safety and security of Aruba’s residents and tourists, effective November 2023.
Two more agenda items were the budget presentation and approval by treasurer Jurgen van Schaijk, for 2024 and the election of a new board member, Rina Geerman, to replace the retiring board member Jessica Franken, La Cabana beach Resort & Casino. Toward the end of the meeting a brief overview of TPEF, the Tourism Product Enhancement Fund, by ATSA member Sulaika Kelly, Playa Linda beach Resort, reported on a number of beautification projects around the island, and ATSA member Pedro Vargas, Marriott Ocean Club, commented on the positive development at the Security Foundation,
The meeting closed after more than two hours; it was filled with important business information.
ATSA was established in 1994, and currently counts the active membership of the majority of vacation ownership properties in Aruba. The Association works on a local level, as a supporting member of AHATA, the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, and with other local organizations as well as Government entities. On a regional level, where Aruba continues to receive recognition as a model vacation ownership destination, ATSA has professional ties with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and also benefits from continuous collaboration with ARDA, the American Resort.
