In a remarkable turn of events, the year 2023 witnessed Aruba experiencing a complete resurgence in its tourism sector, welcoming a significant influx of visitors that surpassed pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.

According to reports, Aruba not only surpassed the overall arrival levels of 2019 but also exceeded other key metrics such as Tourism Receipts and RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room), contributing to the Aruba Tourism Authority’s (A.T.A.) focus on attracting high-value visitors.

Tourism Receipts, reflecting the spending by tourists in Aruba, saw an astounding recovery of 134% compared to 2019, with tourists collectively spending no less than 4.7 billion florins in 2023, marking the highest expenditure in the history of the island’s tourism industry.

Delving into the performance of major markets, it was noted that the United States recovered by 113%, Canada by 119%, Colombia by 160%, and the Netherlands by 87% in 2023 compared to 2019.

Despite global challenges impacting the US airline industry, Aruba managed to increase its seat capacity by 2% year-on-year, resulting in an additional 23,537 seats. Notably, flights from the US reported a load factor of 94%, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.

Latin America experienced substantial growth as well, with a total of 180,000 seats, marking a 6% increase compared to 2019 and a 29% increase compared to 2022, driven by flights from Avianca, Copa, and new routes introduced by Wingo.

In contrast, the European market saw a decline in flights to Aruba in 2023 due to various factors, including changes in available flights and a robust North American market causing a shortage of available capacity for this market.

Aruba’s hotels experienced high occupancy rates, surpassing Average Daily Rate (ADR) and Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) levels by 24% and 114%, respectively, compared to 2019. Short-term vacation rentals also witnessed significant growth in ADR, with a 55% increase compared to 2019 and a 17% increase compared to 2022.

The cruise industry also saw positive growth, with Aruba recovering nearly completely, registering a 98% recovery in cruise passenger numbers compared to 2019, totaling 817,670 passengers across 317 cruise visits to the island.

In line with its commitment to sustainable development, the Aruba Tourism Authority continued to focus on high-value, low-impact tourism, prioritizing niche tourism segments and implementing sustainable development projects throughout the island.

Looking ahead to 2024, the strategy includes emphasis on improving long-haul flights from Latin America and diversifying efforts in the European market while expanding and strengthening routes from North America.

As the authority responsible for Aruba’s tourism, the A.T.A. remains committed to fostering strategies aligned with high-value, low-impact tourism, guiding initiatives to ensure sustainable development on the island.