Discovery Of Aruba
Vacationers participating in Aruba all inclusive vacations may not know much about the island’s history. The island of Aruba was initially discovered by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda in the summer of 1499. Aruba would be governed first by Alonso de Ojeda on behalf of the Spanish in 1508. The Spanish Empire ruled Aruba from 1508 to 1636 when the Dutch assumed control. The Dutch gave way to the British from 1799-1802 and 1805-1816 before resuming control after the Napoleonic Wars.
Aruba’s relationship with the Netherlands continues to exist today. The island was placed under the protection of Great Britain (1940-1942) and the United States (1942-1945), while the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. After the conclusion of World War II, local leaders in Aruba began to push for greater autonomy from the Netherlands. Aruba went from an initial petition for autonomy to the Netherlands in 1947 to independence in 1986.
Primary Industries Of Aruba Prior To Tourism
The Aruba all inclusive vacations advertised by travel agents worldwide were unheard of only six decades ago. Aruba had been prized more for its natural resources than its pristine beaches for most of the island’s history. Vespucci and de Ojeda noted that Aruba was full of Brazil wood trees and other lumber sources that could be used to build in the New World. The island’s lumber industry dominated through much of the Age of Exploration.
Aruba became important to the Allied military strategy in World War II because of its petroleum resources. The oil industry in Aruba was mobilized on behalf of the Americans and British starting in 1940, providing petroleum for tanks and airplanes. Despite skirmishes between Allied and Nazi naval vessels off Aruba after 1941, the constant refining of petroleum on the island helped keep the Allied war effort moving. The influx of Venezuelan and Central American workers to Aruba’s oil refinery, once the second largest in the world, figured prominently in the creation of a postwar tourism industry.
Aruba As A Tourist Destination
The birth of all inclusive Aruba vacations cannot be explained with one simple answer. Arubans were influenced primarily by the downturn in natural resources cultivation after World War II ended. After Exxon-Mobil left the island in the mid 1980’s, the management of the refinery came under the Aruba government. As the demand for and production of oil decreased, the refinery remained operational, but on a much smaller scale. Aruba’s marginal production of lumber products in the 21st century is remarkable considering the abundant resources sent worldwide prior to World War II. The creation of a tourism industry in Aruba came from economic necessity first and foremost.
Aruba’s famed tourist trade was also aided by migrant workers living on the island after 1945. These workers came to work in the oil refinery and shaped Aruban culture by bringing music, language, and art to the island. Once the oil industry declined after World War II, many of these workers stayed to start shops and reshape the Aruban economy because of their intimate connection to the island. These entrepreneurs likely saw the success of the tourist trade in postwar Cuba and other Caribbean islands as an example for Aruba.
Why Is Aruba A Popular Tourist Destination?
Aruba earns 75% of its gross national product from tourism each year, showing how local leaders have pinned their hopes on tourism to stay afloat. The popularity of all inclusive Aruba vacations has emerged from its proximity to South America. Vacationers can fly into Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport for a few days before heading to Venezuela and other South American countries. The “island hopping” vacationer can include Aruba in both sides of his itinerary to take advantage of its natural beauty.
The unique climate of Aruba has made the island a must-see for vacationers in the Caribbean. Most islands in the Caribbean feature hot, humid climates that can be inhospitable to tourists during the rainy season. Aruba has a hot, dry climate that is aided by its location off the coast of Venezuela. All inclusive vacations in Aruba can be booked year round, as the dry weather does not abate from season to season. Businesses and resorts in Aruba can stay open year round without being washed out because of Aruba’s location away from the most damaging hurricanes.
Aruba’s diverse cultural history has led to the pronouncement of Dutch and Papiamento as the official languages. The island’s dalliances with England and the United States in the past have reinforced the presence of English as a minority language. The active tourist trade in Aruba has led shop owners, resort staff, and others to attain fluency in English, Spanish, and other languages to help guests. The multi-lingual nature of Aruba is welcoming to travelers worldwide.
The popularity of Carnival in the Caribbean spread to Aruba during the 1950s. Oil refinery workers from the Caribbean and South America transplanted their love of Carnival celebrations to Aruba, thereby providing a lynchpin for future tourism. Carnival in Aruba runs from the beginning of January to mid-February each year, drawing thousands of tourists to its parades and concerts. The reliability of Carnival visitors in Aruba has bolstered the island during slower periods of tourism.
Statistics On Aruba’s Tourism
We can compare Aruba’s annual tourism to another popular destination, Niagara Falls, to determine its true popularity among travelers. Central Bureau Statistics Aruba (http://www.cbs.aw/cbs/home.do) has tracked the number of visitors worldwide to the island since independence in 1986. The island’s tourist traffic has increased from 181,012 in 1986 to 694,372 in 2006 with a high point of 732,514 in 2005. The recent increase in Aruban tourism has come from North American travelers, growing from 134,915 in 1986 to 518,721 in 2006. The City of Niagara Falls (http://www.niagarafalls.ca/) has found that the popular tourist destination hosted 13.4 million visitors in 1996 and 19.7 million in 2002. This disparity between Aruba and Niagara Falls is largely connected to the accessibility of these tourist hotspots. While Aruba is far away from major population centers in the Caribbean, Niagara Falls has natural constituencies in nearby cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, Buffalo, and Toronto.
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