Aruba’s rich, multicultural past is
reflected in our cuisine, architecture and warm, friendly people. What
began as a fishing outpost for Amerindians has changed hands between the
Spanish and Dutch throughout the centuries, and is now a diverse
constituent country of the Netherlands.
The
flag of Aruba was officially adopted on March 18, 1976, along with the
official
anthem "Aruba Dushi Tera". The four colors each have significance. The blue represents the sea that surrounds Aruba; yellow is the color of abundance, representing the island's past and its industries of gold, aloe and oil; red is for the love each Aruban has for the country and the ancient industry of Brazilwood; and white symbolizes the snow-white beaches as well as the purity of the hearts of Aruba's people who strive for justice, order and liberty.
The symbols on the flag of Aruba consist of a red star and two yellow stripes. The red star represents the four points of the compass, with the island having drawn people from around the world. The star also represents the island itself, surrounded by the beautiful blue sea. The horizontal yellow stripes denote the free and separate position Aruba enjoys in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We celebrate all that, and the flag of Aruba and anthem have come to signify with the national holiday of Flag and Anthem Day each March 18, the same day that in 1986, Holland accepted Aruba’s right to autonomous status in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Our Flag
anthem "Aruba Dushi Tera". The four colors each have significance. The blue represents the sea that surrounds Aruba; yellow is the color of abundance, representing the island's past and its industries of gold, aloe and oil; red is for the love each Aruban has for the country and the ancient industry of Brazilwood; and white symbolizes the snow-white beaches as well as the purity of the hearts of Aruba's people who strive for justice, order and liberty.
The symbols on the flag of Aruba consist of a red star and two yellow stripes. The red star represents the four points of the compass, with the island having drawn people from around the world. The star also represents the island itself, surrounded by the beautiful blue sea. The horizontal yellow stripes denote the free and separate position Aruba enjoys in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We celebrate all that, and the flag of Aruba and anthem have come to signify with the national holiday of Flag and Anthem Day each March 18, the same day that in 1986, Holland accepted Aruba’s right to autonomous status in the Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Amerindians
The
Caquetio Indians of the Arawak tribe from the South American mainland
were Aruba's first inhabitants. During the Pre-ceramic Period of
habitation (2500 BC – 1000 AD), they were fishers-hunters-gatherers who
depended on the sea for survival and used tools of roughly flaked stones
and shell. They lived in small family groups and fished along Aruba’s
coast at locations now named Malmok and Palm Beach.
During the beginning of the Ceramic period (1000-1515 AD), five large Indian villages were founded on the best agricultural soil, producing corn and yucca. Indians buried their dead ceremoniously in different ways, indicating a hierarchical socio-political system. They made coarse pottery as well as finer well-crafted pieces.
During the beginning of the Ceramic period (1000-1515 AD), five large Indian villages were founded on the best agricultural soil, producing corn and yucca. Indians buried their dead ceremoniously in different ways, indicating a hierarchical socio-political system. They made coarse pottery as well as finer well-crafted pieces.
Spanish Rule
When
explorer Alonso de Ojeda discovered Aruba in 1499 and claimed it for
the Spanish throne, he named it la isla de los gigantes (English: the
island of giants), the tall Indians descended from Aruba’s very first
settlers. After a decade, Aruba’s moniker was changed to isla inutíl, a
useless island, as no gold or treasures were found.
In 1513, the entire Indian population was enslaved and taken to work on the Spanish estates in Hispaniola, now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At the beginning of the Indian Historic Period in 1515, some Indians returned while others arrived from the mainland and lived in small villages in the northern part of the island.
With the return of the Spanish, the Indians were recruited as laborers for cattle and horse breeding. From the 17th century on, the majority of Indians migrated from the South American mainland. Indian preachers were Aruba’s Catholic spiritual leaders well into the 18th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, Indians made up about one-third of the island’s 1700 inhabitants, but in 1862, historians believe that Aruba’s last Indian died.
In 1513, the entire Indian population was enslaved and taken to work on the Spanish estates in Hispaniola, now the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At the beginning of the Indian Historic Period in 1515, some Indians returned while others arrived from the mainland and lived in small villages in the northern part of the island.
With the return of the Spanish, the Indians were recruited as laborers for cattle and horse breeding. From the 17th century on, the majority of Indians migrated from the South American mainland. Indian preachers were Aruba’s Catholic spiritual leaders well into the 18th century. At the beginning of the 19th century, Indians made up about one-third of the island’s 1700 inhabitants, but in 1862, historians believe that Aruba’s last Indian died.
Dutch Rule
Aruba’s
strategic location was recognized by the Dutch who initially occupied
the island in 1636 to protect their salt supply from the mainland and
establish a naval base in the Caribbean during their 80-year war with
Spain.
Further economic development continued through the Dutch West India Company located on the neighboring island of Curaçao. Aruba remained in Dutch hands, except for a brief hiatus under English rule from 1805-1816, during the Napoleonic Wars.
Further economic development continued through the Dutch West India Company located on the neighboring island of Curaçao. Aruba remained in Dutch hands, except for a brief hiatus under English rule from 1805-1816, during the Napoleonic Wars.
Aruba Tourism
The Beginnings of Tourism
In the 1920’s, Aruba had only a few visitors. Between 1924 and 1928, there were about 200 yachts, motor vessels and tankers registered, bringing American businessmen and visitors.
The Lago Refinery had been the main source of employment for the island of Aruba ever since 1924. In the 1950s, due to automation, many employees lost their jobs. To boost the economy, a new industry was sought. The Dutch government proposed tourism, which seemed the most feasible choice.
In 1947, it was decided that a commission must be established to promote and direct tourism on the island, with Ernst Bartels at the helm. In 1953, the Aruba Tourist Commission officially became the Aruba Tourist Bureau (ATB). This was a small organization with only two employees; Ernst Bartels remained chief, assisted by Casper Wever. ATB continued the vital work of promoting Aruba as a tourism destination, especially in the United States, one of the key markets for the Caribbean.
In 1959, the Caribbean Hotel, Aruba’s first multi-story resort hotel opened. From that time until 1977, the number of hotels increased to 16 and total number of rooms reached 2,148. Five hotels had their own casinos.
Tourism in the 1980s – 1990s
In January 1983, Sasaki Associates, Inc. of Watertown, Massachusetts assisted by several government agencies concluded a six-month study dealing with the development of Aruba’s main tourism corridor - the coastal area extending from Oranjestad to California Point in the northwest corner of the island. This became the focus of Aruba’s tourism growth because of wide beaches, warm ocean waters and land that could be easily developed. Major investments by government in roadways, waterlines and sewage treatment facilities facilitated large-scale resort hotel development.
A new roadway network was developed. Protection of environmentally sensitive areas such as the unique geological formations and dunes of Arashi/California Point, and the major salinas (for floodwater storage) was a priority. They sought to preserve the beauty of the existing desert landscape and native plants.
By 1984, tourism was a well-developed sector in the Aruban economy. In fact, among the primary sectors, it was second only to the oil industry, in terms of its contribution to the gross domestic product (Unesco, 1990).
The closing of the oil refinery, resulting from declining market value and cutbacks in the supply of Venezuelan oil, had a great impact on the Aruban economy in 1985. In 1986, Aruba achieved its status aparte, withdrawing from the Antillean federation and becoming an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was within this context the tourism took over as the economic force on Aruba.
After the closure of Lago in 1985, the Aruba Government decided to invest in tourism as the economic pillar of the island and replaced the Aruba Tourist Bureau with the newly created Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) in 1986. ATA grew in importance, concentrating on opening new markets and expanding its marketing activities.
In the period from 1986 – 1996, tourism to Aruba grew almost twice the rate of that of the entire Caribbean in the period. From 1986, when construction of hotels resumed, until 1991, total number of rooms more than doubled from 2,776 to 5,625. During this period, the number of timeshares also increased about fivefold, from 337 units to 1967 units. By the end of 1996, there were 7,103 rooms, of which timeshare units totaled 2,272.
The refinery reopened in 1990 by Coastal, but tourism remained the mainstay of the island’s export earnings. The government’s role in this growth was due to the fact that it devoted considerable resources to support the tourism industry in order to increase revenues and create employment, developing a basic infrastructure to serve hotels and other tourist facilities, directly supporting the expansion of tourist accommodations by partial ownership of three hotels totaling about 600 rooms.
Tourism Today
Hotels are concentrated in two main areas: high rises in Palm Beach, and low-rises in Eagle Beach and Punta Bravo. The majority of today’s hotels fall under foreign ownership and many of them are international brands. Despite the increase in hotel capacity, Aruba enjoys a hotel occupancy rate averaging about 75% year-round, one of the highest in the Caribbean. Aruba’s popularity has remained constant, due not only to sun, sand and sea, but also to other factors including the hospitality and friendliness of its people, safety, political stability, and various niches such as activities, nightlife, shopping, restaurants.
The airport, built in 1972 and expanded in 1987, has recently been modernized and expanded. US Immigration arrived in 1988, and US Customs in 2000, made possible by a new state-of-the-art building for U.S. departures only. Many flights pre-clear U.S. immigration and customs in Aruba, a boon for those traveling to the States.
In the 1920’s, Aruba had only a few visitors. Between 1924 and 1928, there were about 200 yachts, motor vessels and tankers registered, bringing American businessmen and visitors.
The Lago Refinery had been the main source of employment for the island of Aruba ever since 1924. In the 1950s, due to automation, many employees lost their jobs. To boost the economy, a new industry was sought. The Dutch government proposed tourism, which seemed the most feasible choice.
In 1947, it was decided that a commission must be established to promote and direct tourism on the island, with Ernst Bartels at the helm. In 1953, the Aruba Tourist Commission officially became the Aruba Tourist Bureau (ATB). This was a small organization with only two employees; Ernst Bartels remained chief, assisted by Casper Wever. ATB continued the vital work of promoting Aruba as a tourism destination, especially in the United States, one of the key markets for the Caribbean.
In 1959, the Caribbean Hotel, Aruba’s first multi-story resort hotel opened. From that time until 1977, the number of hotels increased to 16 and total number of rooms reached 2,148. Five hotels had their own casinos.
Tourism in the 1980s – 1990s
In January 1983, Sasaki Associates, Inc. of Watertown, Massachusetts assisted by several government agencies concluded a six-month study dealing with the development of Aruba’s main tourism corridor - the coastal area extending from Oranjestad to California Point in the northwest corner of the island. This became the focus of Aruba’s tourism growth because of wide beaches, warm ocean waters and land that could be easily developed. Major investments by government in roadways, waterlines and sewage treatment facilities facilitated large-scale resort hotel development.
A new roadway network was developed. Protection of environmentally sensitive areas such as the unique geological formations and dunes of Arashi/California Point, and the major salinas (for floodwater storage) was a priority. They sought to preserve the beauty of the existing desert landscape and native plants.
By 1984, tourism was a well-developed sector in the Aruban economy. In fact, among the primary sectors, it was second only to the oil industry, in terms of its contribution to the gross domestic product (Unesco, 1990).
The closing of the oil refinery, resulting from declining market value and cutbacks in the supply of Venezuelan oil, had a great impact on the Aruban economy in 1985. In 1986, Aruba achieved its status aparte, withdrawing from the Antillean federation and becoming an autonomous entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was within this context the tourism took over as the economic force on Aruba.
After the closure of Lago in 1985, the Aruba Government decided to invest in tourism as the economic pillar of the island and replaced the Aruba Tourist Bureau with the newly created Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) in 1986. ATA grew in importance, concentrating on opening new markets and expanding its marketing activities.
In the period from 1986 – 1996, tourism to Aruba grew almost twice the rate of that of the entire Caribbean in the period. From 1986, when construction of hotels resumed, until 1991, total number of rooms more than doubled from 2,776 to 5,625. During this period, the number of timeshares also increased about fivefold, from 337 units to 1967 units. By the end of 1996, there were 7,103 rooms, of which timeshare units totaled 2,272.
The refinery reopened in 1990 by Coastal, but tourism remained the mainstay of the island’s export earnings. The government’s role in this growth was due to the fact that it devoted considerable resources to support the tourism industry in order to increase revenues and create employment, developing a basic infrastructure to serve hotels and other tourist facilities, directly supporting the expansion of tourist accommodations by partial ownership of three hotels totaling about 600 rooms.
Tourism Today
Hotels are concentrated in two main areas: high rises in Palm Beach, and low-rises in Eagle Beach and Punta Bravo. The majority of today’s hotels fall under foreign ownership and many of them are international brands. Despite the increase in hotel capacity, Aruba enjoys a hotel occupancy rate averaging about 75% year-round, one of the highest in the Caribbean. Aruba’s popularity has remained constant, due not only to sun, sand and sea, but also to other factors including the hospitality and friendliness of its people, safety, political stability, and various niches such as activities, nightlife, shopping, restaurants.
The airport, built in 1972 and expanded in 1987, has recently been modernized and expanded. US Immigration arrived in 1988, and US Customs in 2000, made possible by a new state-of-the-art building for U.S. departures only. Many flights pre-clear U.S. immigration and customs in Aruba, a boon for those traveling to the States.
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