MEP calls for a more active parliamentary role in debate over tourism pressure

ORANJESTAD — MEP parliamentary leader Evelyn Wever-Croes has called for an urgent meeting of Parliament’s Permanent Tourism Committee to discuss the current state of tourism in Aruba and growing concerns about overtourism.

According to Wever-Croes, tourism remains crucial to Aruba’s economy, but continued growth is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure, traffic, public spaces, nature, waste management and quality of life. MEP argues that the question should not only be how many more tourists Aruba can attract, but what kind of tourism model the island can sustain in the long term.

The party is advocating a “High Value, Low Impact” model aimed at generating greater economic and social value while limiting pressure on Aruba’s limited space, infrastructure and natural environment.

MEP has asked Parliament to invite the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), Aruba Hotel & Tourism Association (AHATA) and Aruba Timeshare Association (ATSA) to discuss Aruba’s tourism capacity, the current state of the sector and the conditions needed to move toward a more sustainable model.

Wever-Croes stressed that the objective is not to assign blame, but to work with stakeholders to identify limits and determine what decisions are needed to keep tourism a source of prosperity without allowing economic growth to come at the expense of residents’ quality of life.