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It’s more important than ever to focus on sustainability efforts in Aruba.
We need to protect and preserve our island, indigenous flora and fauna, and delicate coral reefs. Here’s how you can help.
When visiting Aruba, we invite you to embrace responsible tourism—by caring for the island we call home, respecting its landscapes, connecting with our culture, and supporting our local communities.
Balancing tourism with sustainability, particularly on a small island of less than 70 square miles, requires a community effort through a variety of platforms, initiatives, and governance. And it is important that you, as a repeat guest of our island or first-time vacationer in Aruba, understand what we mean by sustainable travel, sustainability, and responsible tourism. In this blog we will break those down for you. We’ll also give insights why responsible tourism matters and share the Aruba Promise with you, a sustainable tourism campaign that entails some basic behavioral rules and comprehensive guest guidelines.
Aruba is a very popular vacation destination, and understandably. What’s not to like about endless white sands, crystal clear waters, soothing trade winds and endless sunny days. While Aruba’s beaches and unique natural beauty are a main attraction for a visit to our tiny island, Aruba’s massive tourist popularity in recent years asks for a shift in the way we all treat those assets. And that’s where ecotourism comes into play.
Both locals and guests of our island love to enjoy Aruba’s beaches, ocean, landscapes and admire encounters with local wildlife. At the same time Aruba’s fragile desert ecosystem demands that we tread with care and become more mindful of how we behave. If you wonder ‘what is ecotourism and how can I help?’, the answer lies in the willingness to be aware of your environment, the fine line between enjoying and preserving a place, and support of the local community. It’s also referred to as responsible tourism, as you take your own responsibility, for your own actions and for the wellbeing of the destination you visit as a guest.
To act responsible and fully embrace responsible tourism, some protective travel practices are essential. Only if we all adhere to a set of guest guidelines and take our own responsibility for our behavior, keeping the wellbeing of Aruba’s nature, local culture and environment in mind, we can retain what our island is so proudly known for: gorgeous, truly unique landscapes, flora & fauna and beaches most can only dream of. To help preserve the wellbeing of Aruba, now and in the future.
New research from the Aruba Tourism Authority reveals what global travelers truly value, and how they're ready to act on it. In a global survey of 7,000+ travelers, one message is clear: responsible tourism isn't niche anymore, it's non-negotiable.
The most relevant takeaways from ATA’s responsible tourism impact report are:
· 96% of global travelers say Responsible tourism is important
· consumers expect their travel to uplift places, not just avoid harm
· 73% want to make a positive impact; 23% feel they’ve been guided to do so
· access to nature, culture, and community-based lodging are top destination drivers
· 80% say tourism should improve the lives of locals
· 97% are willing to engage in at least 1 action to help
We ask our guests to do their part in treating our home with respect so we can remain One Happy Island for generations to come. So, we created the Aruba Promise—a commitment guests can make to do their part to help protect Aruba’s natural beauty and biodiversity, ensuring it remains a welcoming and happy place.
Seemingly harmless activities can have long-term, negative impacts on our island’s biodiversity. The Aruba Promise is one way that we use our voice to advocate for practices that will sustain life in Aruba – our people, wildlife, land and water. By engaging our guests, we’re providing you with the resources to make more responsible choices that will help protect our tiny island gem.
A few examples of what might seem harmless to you, yet is damaging to Aruba’s eco system and therefore unwanted behavior:
· Chasing, touching or feeding wildlife during your encounter
· Collecting seashells from the beach and taking them with you
· Stacking rocks
· Driving through backlands on ‘off roading adventures’ with high speed
There are various ways in which guests can help protect our island and its delicate environment. First and foremost, by embracing sustainable travel and adhering to the guest guidelines of the Aruba Promise. And there are other simple steps.
Before arrival you are asked to fill out an online ED-card, with Aruba’s sustainability fee attached to it. By paying this small fee you help better and support our island's ecosystem and sustainability efforts. And by paying your entrance fee to the Arikok National Park you automatically contribute to the protection and preservation of Aruba’s nature, flora and fauna.
Besides the behavioral changes and support we ask from our island guests and residents, there are additional government-led sustainable initiatives and rules in Aruba.
Plastic pollution is one of the worst culprits of environmental destruction, harming wildlife and marine life and their natural habitats, and introduces toxic chemicals to water and food sources for humans. Aruba began weeding single-use plastics out of circulation on the island in 2017 with a ban on single-use plastic bags. In November 2019, Aruba’s Parliament unanimously voted to ban additional single-use items including plastic cups and plates, straws and stirrers, plastic utensils, and plastic to-go containers.
Aruba’s Parliament also bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone. This chemical contributes to coral bleaching, which can ultimately kill entire reef systems. Two local companies, Aruba Aloe and Arubalife Organics, produce reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreens.
The Aruban government focuses on renewable energy, which started with the Vader Piet Windmill Farm completed in 2009, where 17 percent of the island’s electricity needs are generated.
Aruba’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery, locally known as Santa Rosa, serves the community by initiating projects that promote better practices in local husbandry and fishing. Santa Rosa also aims to raise awareness of the importance of locally grown and harvested products. The department reports that several developments are happening both at Santa Rosa and in the field.
One recent achievement for Santa Rosa is the “10,000 Trees for Aruba” project, where a total of 10,000 fruit trees were planted in neighborhoods around the island with the goal of providing residents with locally grown fruits.
A big step forward in local farming took place with the establishment of a new growers’ association called United Farmers Aruba (UFA). UFA is a co-op for both large- and small-scale farmers in Aruba working together to successfully produce high quality, sustainable agricultural products.
An increasing number of markets and events are popping up across the island (including a once-a-month market at The Ostrich Farm), providing vendors with more opportunities to sell their products, many derived from local produce, such as wines, liquors, jam, and herbal products.
The journey to becoming an eco-friendly destination really doesn’t end. Even with the many green-friendly endeavors that the Aruban community and tourism industry are partaking in, sustainability is about constantly adapting and finding new ways to take care of our environment. New ways to generate green energy, but also reducing waste, and creating legislation to protect the beautiful island of Aruba and the rest of the world.
The journey to becoming an eco-friendly destination really doesn’t end. Even with the many green-friendly endeavors that the Aruban community and tourism industry are partaking in, sustainability is about constantly adapting and finding new ways to take care of our environment. New ways to generate green energy, but also reducing waste, and creating legislation to protect the beautiful island of Aruba and the rest of the world.
Our island paradise is blessed with a bounty of nature and variety of wonders found nowhere else.
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