Introduction
Tourism in Aruba continues to grow, with a positive increase in the number of “stayover” guests in November 2024. This article provides a business analysis of the latest tourism figures, focusing on trends in visitor numbers, markets, and the evolution of different accommodation categories. However, the full details of the report have not yet been published on the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) website, but AWEMainta will discuss them further at a later time.

Increase in Guest Numbers
In November 2024, Aruba received 106,938 “stayover” guests, which represents a 0.9% growth compared to November 2023 (105,946 guests). This slight increase underscores Aruba’s continued appeal as a tourist destination. The demand for accommodation continues to rise, partly due to the expansion of airline capacity, which allows Aruba to better meet the growing demand.

Source Markets
The largest group of visitors to Aruba in November 2024 came from North America, accounting for 78.4% of the total guest numbers. This was followed by visitors from Latin America (13.1%) and Europe (5.6%). The diversity of source markets continues to help Aruba position itself as an international tourist destination. European visitors remain a smaller but stable group, while the share of Latin American guests continues to grow.

Accommodation Categories and Trends
In November 2024, 32.9% of guests stayed in other types of accommodation, such as short-term vacation rentals (STVR), which shows significant growth compared to other categories. 24.4% stayed in hotels with the European Plan, 16.2% opted for all-inclusive hotels, and 26.4% stayed in timeshare accommodations. The rise of short-term vacation rentals reflects a growing preference for flexible and often cheaper accommodation options for tourists visiting Aruba.

Short-Term Vacation Rentals (STVR)
The STVR market continues to be a significant player in Aruban tourism, with an occupancy rate increasing by 3.9% from 50.8% in November 2023 to 54.7% in November 2024. This indicates a growing popularity of short-term rentals, such as apartments and villas, which often fall outside the traditional hotel structures. However, the revenue from this market was slightly lower than the previous year, which may suggest a decrease in the average daily rate (ADR) from $263 in 2023 to $249 in 2024.

In total, Aruba welcomed 1,293,446 “stayover” guests by the end of November 2024, a 14.4% increase compared to the same period in 2023 (1,131,099 guests). The dominance of North American guests remains clear, with 79.9% of visitors coming from this region.

Conclusion and Future Expectations
The data for November 2024 shows positive, albeit moderate, growth in tourism to Aruba. The continued preference for short-term vacation rentals indicates that tourists are increasingly seeking alternative accommodation options. The rising number of visitors from North America and Latin America underscores Aruba’s broad appeal as a vacation destination. Since the complete data for the year has not yet been published, AWEMainta may present a more detailed article in the future to further analyze these trends and explore the impact of these developments on the Aruban economy and tourism in 2025.

Sources

• Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), “A.T.A. ta comparti cifranan pa luna di november 2024.”