Location
Aruba is nestled in the southern Caribbean, 16 miles off the coast of Venezuela and approximately 750 miles from the equator. Aruba is approx. 20 miles long and 6 miles wide and is well known as a top Caribbean tourist destination. Tourists from around the world visit Aruba however the United States provides the island with approximately 70% of its vacation guests (the northeast corridor being the most prominent provider). Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This democratic country is self-ruled with only foreign affairs and foreign defense managed by the mother country.
Industry
Since the downturn of the previously dominant oil refinery in the mid 80's, the country has successfully converted to a tourism-based economy, with over 75% of the GNP related directly or indirectly to tourism.
With close to 8000 hotel rooms in class ranging from 3 star to 5 star Resorts and an average annual occupancy between 73 and 77%, Aruba enjoys a steady growth in visitors. The Cruise ship industry has increased its number of visits to Aruba over the last years with larger vessels and more frequent visits. Over 1 million Cruise ships passengers visited Aruba in 2003.
The Aruba Tourism Authority, the governing body in charge of Tourism, Marketing and Management, and the Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association, a private entity managed and funded by the private sector, work closely together to ensure steady tourism management that covers both public and private interests.
Crime
Aruba remains a relatively small community that has managed to keep its crime to a minimum. While incidents do occur, Aruba still holds the destinction of being one of the safest island in the Caribbean. A recent cooperation between public and private sector, the Aruba Security and Hospitality Foundation, has established a unique team of tourism police that monitors the main tourist areas to provide visibility to tourists (reassurance) and to discourage criminal behavior.
Population
The population estimated in 2005 at 110,000 is a melting pot of ethnic races and cultures with a strong Dutch influence because of its heritage, American influence because of tourism and Latino influence because of its close proximity to South America. There is no discrimination and everyone lives together in Harmony.