Courtesy of: The Morning News
Aruba is famous for its beaches, of which those best known to island visitors are Palm Beach, Eagle Beach and Manchebo Beach, where most of the resorts are situated. However, the island has several lovely and more secluded beach areas that beg for development, and the current administration announced definitive plans to improve these areas during a press conference on July 22.
Minister of Tourism, Transport and Labor, Otmar Oduber, hosted the conference, with the Minister of Infrastructure, Immigration and Environment, Benny Sevinger, and Minister of Finance, Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Mike de Meza, in attendance.
The three targeted areas are Baby Beach in San Nicolas, which is often frequented by vacationers, Surfside, on the eastern end of Oranjestad, adjacent to the airport, and the bay at Cura Cubai, at the western end of San Nicolas, which is rarely visited, but offers excellent conditions for many water activities.
The Surfside area is a popular place with islanders, particularly on weekends. The area to be developed is between the Plaza Turismo and the airport, and is actually a part of the second phase of development of the Aruba Linear Park. This will eventually stretch along the coastline, from the Reina Beatrix International Airport to north of Malmok and beyond Palm Beach. Minister Sevinger signed the official agreement for commencement of the second phase of the park two week ago.
All three beaches will be groomed and landscaped with increased foliage and parking areas. Concession stands for water activities and snacks will be added, as well as public sanitation facilities, adequate refuse containers, and reinforced piers for fishing boats at Surfside and Cura Cabai.
Minister Oduber cited the many advantages of improving these areas, which convinced the government to propose the projects and Parliament to approve them. The benefits will be both to visitors and the community in general. Part of the plan entails arranging with several of the cruise ships to deploy these beaches for their passengers when calling in Oranjestad Harbor. This will relieve the congestion that often occurs along Palm Beach, where the shorefront is already crowded with hotel guests. By directing the vast number of single-day visitors to these attractive, empty beaches, the vacation experience will be improved for both cruise ship passengers and stay over visitors.
Minister Sevinger explained that the influx to the areas will provide opportunity for commerce among those living in these neighborhoods, allowing them to do business closer to home. Improvements to Baby Beach and the development of Cura Cubai are particularly in line with the present administration’s plan to revitalize San Nicolas and see it become a secondary center of tourism. Eventually, some small, “boutique” resorts would also fit into this plan.
“San Nicolas and its environs do provide a more authentic Caribbean experience,” observed Minister Oduber. “We wish this to be part of the tourist experience; a more realistic example of island and regional culture.”
Minister Oduber stated the cost of the three projects combined will be 7.2 million Arubian florins (4.11 Million Dollars U.S.) and it will be funded in the majority by the Fundo Desaroyo Arubano, FDA (Aruba Development Fund) with minor amounts coming from other sources. They are now accepting bids on the projects, and hope to see the Baby Beach improvements completed within 6 to 9 months.
The ministers pointed out there are presently 87 beautification projects taking place in all neighborhoods of Aruba. Their ultimate vision is that Aruba not only consists of one or two specific areas worth visiting by vacationers, but for the island to be a cohesive whole, offer many enjoyable experiences and interesting sights no matter where tourists travel on the island.
