ORANJESTAD – The Aruba Tourism Authority celebrates the 40th anniversary of its office in Colombia. On this special occasion, they reflect on all the achievements made over the past decades and express gratitude to all the partners and collaborators who made this accomplishment possible.
Aruba’s tourism office in Colombia opened its doors in 1983 with the goal of promoting Aruba as a tourist paradise and positioning the island as a preferred destination for Colombian visitors.
Ronella Croes, CEO of A.T.A, looks back with pride and satisfaction on the past 40 years. The challenges faced by A.T.A. during this journey have fueled their creativity in the development and implementation of marketing strategies in Colombia, a country that opens doors and connects Aruba with the rest of South America. Thanks to the continuous efforts and dedication of everyone involved, Aruba can now count on a steady flow of visitors from Colombia.
From 1980 to December 2022, over 700,000 Colombian tourists have visited Aruba, representing 3% of the 27 million visitors the island has received from Latin America. In 2022, Aruba welcomed 1,170,000 tourists, with 370,000 of them coming from Colombia, accounting for 3% of the global market. For 2023, A.T.A. projects a 105% recovery compared to 2019, which was the best year prior to the pandemic.
During the reception, several special guests were in attendance, including the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ernst Noorman, the President of Anato, Paula Cortés Calle, the Minister of Economic Affairs, Communication, and Sustainable Development of Aruba, Geoffrey Wever, the Director of Holland House Colombia, Jan Willem van Bokhoven, the current Director of A.T.A. Latin America, Jordan Schlipken, and the former Director of A.T.A. Colombia, María Victoria Galán.
Ronella Croes expressed words of gratitude and appreciation to everyone who, in one way or another, collaborated with Aruba’s tourism office throughout the years to achieve these figures. “I want to thank all our strategic partners, including airlines, tour operators, and travel agencies, who have supported and promoted Aruba during the past 40 years,” said the CEO. “Thank you for the trust, for allowing us to open new routes, and for your enthusiasm and commitment to selling the Aruba product.” Ronella also thanked the media and content creators who continue to inspire the Colombian market to come and enjoy our happy island.
During the reception, recognition was also given to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Colombia for his efforts and collaboration with Aruba and the Aruba Tourism Office.
