Tour Operators Uni proposes GPS tracking, speed limits and marked routes for UTVs and ATVs

ORANJESTAD — Tour Operators Uni has submitted a proposal to the government to regulate UTV and ATV activities through GPS monitoring, clearly marked routes and a maximum speed of 40 kilometres per hour. On unpaved roads in residential areas, the proposed limit is 20 kilometres per hour.

The proposed “Nature Protocol” includes closing secondary tracks leading into vulnerable areas, training guides and identifying authorized operators. The organization also proposes holding companies accountable for environmental violations within their operations, with fines and escalating penalties.

The plan includes planting 250 native trees over three years, subject to ecological approval and cooperation with Fundacion Conservacion Aruba. The sector is seeking government support for water supply and care of the young trees.

The proposal follows a September 9 protocol signed by the government and several operators that established topics for consultation but did not determine which routes would remain open or close. A recent visit to Tera Cora with Minister René Herdé and the Department of Nature and Environment was also exploratory, with no final route decisions.

Tour Operators Uni supports regulated use of existing dirt roads while acknowledging their potential environmental impact through dust, noise and traffic. It says its invitation for dialogue with Aruba Birdlife Conservation remains open.

It is not yet known whether the government will accept the proposal in full or in part. Its legal and ecological feasibility, including compatibility with the ROPV spatial planning rules and nature protection legislation, remains to be determined.