Natalee Case Discussion #771 10/4/08 - 10/26/08

[johan555]

20-25 percent  fewer

amigoe

   American tourists account for less Aruba holidays
October 21, 2008, 15:35 (GMT -04:00)



Cabinet members and stakeholders listened attentively to yesterday Ahata-director Rob Smith who briefed the press about the decline of holiday bookings from the U.S..


ORANGE CITY - The American tourist is is 20-25 percent  fewer holidays booked for next spring in Aruba than in the same period last year. There is the expectation that the number of visitors to Aruba this month a few percent less than in 2007. That the director of the tourism branch Ahata, Rob Smith, yesterday informed at a press conference at the Central Bank Aruba (CBA).

"It is therefore important that we respond as early promotion with extra money," said Smith. Together with the ATA, the government, AIB and CBA was announced yesterday the plan for an additional capital injection of additional 10 million dollars (17.5 million florin) to do for the tourism advertising budget. That is in addition to the 7 million florin Ahata and that the government undertook extra two weeks ago for promotion.
Smith: "Let us hope that as we go through this financial storm coming. What the government has now decided, is very important. "According to the Ahata director may also be possible to come into fall with the decline of tourists. "Many Americans wait until the outcome of the presidential elections in the U.S. is known and will then leave their books. They also wait until the prices for travel packages to Caribbean destinations, which bagged by the crisis, still less to take advantage of the greatest advantage. "

No price
Where both the Ahata as the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA) no sense in it, is lowering prices on Aruba. Both sides want the same thing, 'sustainable' Aruba product available. A major reason are the fixed costs. "The salaries, electricity charges and taxes are increased enormously," says Smith. Aruba remains that in contrast to most other Caribbean destinations everything set for extra money for promotion. "Those other islands probably can not and should lower their prices", explains Smith, which nevertheless has noticed that some hotel chains in Aruba also offers stunt.
ATA Director Myrna Jansen expects the aggressive marketing campaign that together with a new advertising agency was launched in the U.S., effective move. "The timing to invest now is very important. With this move (the capital injection, ed), we try the effects of the crisis to minimize and we ensure that economic growth does not stop at Aruba. We can at least not with their hands over each other to sit down and have our voice heard to ensure that the demand side is growing. "
The advertising agency of ATA bestookt at this moment the U.S.. In the subway systems of Boston and New York are wild and posters distributed in large American cinemas are to see spots of Aruba as a possible holiday destination. Even tourists are attracted by video and by spamming them with e-mails. "


At the press conference at the Central Bank were also listed some light. Rob Smith repeated satisfied the data from AAA aviation authority that the number of flights to Aruba in the lift. Minister of Tourism, Edison Briesen, Aruba was implying that good progress is by cruise ships on the route including Panama and Cartagena goes. It was again proclaimed that the first eight months of the year meant a profit for the Aruban tourism sector, with an increase of 13.9 percent over 2007. In September there were, according to the Ahata many as 11 percent fewer bookings, but this negative trend appears to be in October and the coming months to continue. "It is important that this campaign results quickly, before the spring, because that sector deserves 60 percent of the total annual income," said Ahata-director Smith.

[johan555]

new safety info for aruba 

I would invest ($15-30.00) for a lock for your laptop.

I would also be very careful if you are staying away from the main tourist area, say in a house rental. Our friends (the ones that came to help us when we ran out of water) rent a house for a month every March (in the Noord area) and their house was robbed while they slept of jewerly, cash, camera, binoculars, wallets, etc. The house was fully alarmed, with the exception (which they did not realize) of the kitchen window, which turned out to be the point of entry.

There have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms and armed robberies have been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft.
Car theft, especially that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis.

We had our ipod stolen out of our room at divi dutch village last year. Security was useless.

Rules for teens:
You can get hurt, raped, or even very permanently dead.
Strangers are not your friends. They may become your friends sooner or later but they are not automatically your friends because they are cute or cool. They will give you the same lines you hear at home. Don’t believe them just because they are foreign.

 Don’t travel alone. Always have at least one person with you. There is safety in numbers. Let someone know where you will be at all times.

[johan555]

More tips 

NEVER to park at the bus station

Posted by Linda VH 
I have been hesitant to post this as I don't want to whole "scare thing" but this seems like the place. In August I went downtown alone and parked at the bus station. There are two outdoor eating places (kind of snack bars) that I saw locals frequenting. I walked up the front street window shopping, etc. and went to the casino. Coming back I walked behind the Ren mall down towards the parking lot. As I got close to the last road you cross this very large (tall man) with dreads started yelling to me. I kept walking and he started following me - I walk very fast so I sped into speed walking and he did NOT fall behind. By the time I hit the parking lot I was jogging and he was keeping pace. I thought of going to the snack bar but feared that he was crazy and they wouldn't understand me before he hit me or something so I ran past. He kept coming fast and one of the men at the bar yelled and started following (I realized this later - as you can imagine I was freaking a bit). I had, for some reason, taken my keys out prior to walking from the last store probably because I had broken my wrist and my one arm was in a cast which makes it difficult to do things efficiently. I jumped into my car and quickly locked the door and he hit the car running. Yelling that he wanted some money and trying to wipe at my car. It was broad daylight and, in retrospect, I should have run behind the counter of the snack bar but...... Anyway, when I pulled out the car (with him hanging on it) he ran away and the fellow that had followed told me he was a druggie and that they would call the police and I could leave. I told some friends who live on the island and they said NEVER to park at the bus station. I am sorry I didn't post this sooner but as I said I get tired of hearing the "Aruba" bashing. Just goes to show you need to be vigilant everywhere. I thought I was.

drugsdealer near C&C 2005

[johan555]

charlierat 
Moderator says:

I still maintain that Aruba is one of the safest destinations a person can chose

[Monkey See Monkey Don't Do]

I don't know what I'm allowed to say or what I'm allowed not to say but here it goes. I've been catching up on my reading with Natalee and I bought the book written by Dave Holloway, and so many AWFUL things have happened and are still happening in ARBUA. I say " BLOW THAT PLACE OFF THE MAP" I know their are alot of GOOD people there don't get me wrong, PLEASE. But when woman get raped and report it? The law there, DOES NOTHING! OR When young ladies go missing and still are missing, THEY DO NOTHING OR DID NOTHING AT THE TIME! That's just crazy. I do apologize if I offended anyone, that was NOT my intentions at all. I just think this all a a damn shame! 

[natalfan]

                   Breaking News
Ryan P.  is probably innocent.

http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=3445.new#new

Johan, how can this be?  I thought he told them what he did.

Because he is Dutch, silly!!! 

Tunnelvision from Schagen maybe? He is known fot that in Holland

[johan555]

I don't know what I'm allowed to say or what I'm allowed not to say but here it goes. I've been catching up on my reading with Natalee and I bought the book written by Dave Holloway, and so many AWFUL things have happened and are still happening in ARBUA. I say " BLOW THAT PLACE OFF THE MAP" I know their are alot of GOOD people there don't get me wrong, PLEASE. But when woman get raped and report it? The law there, DOES NOTHING! OR When young ladies go missing and still are missing, THEY DO NOTHING OR DID NOTHING AT THE TIME! That's just crazy. I do apologize if I offended anyone, that was NOT my intentions at all. I just think this all a a damn shame! 

                           

[johan555]

breaking news Bonaire 

breaking news Bonaire !!!!!!!!!!!!
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=3445.new#new

[LilPuma]

Anyone know how old Renfroe is? 

Let's see.....

How old is dirt? It's not called the 'world's oldest profession' for nothing 


Hi LilPuma    Bball season starts soon -- yippppeeeee.

Preseason has already started and I'm trying to get used to who is on which team now that they spent the off season doing some shuffling.  I don't even know some of my team's players.  But I'm looking forward to a long cold winter with the NBA to keep me from going crazy. 
 

[Nut44x4]

I don't know what I'm allowed to say or what I'm allowed not to say but here it goes. I've been catching up on my reading with Natalee and I bought the book written by Dave Holloway, and so many AWFUL things have happened and are still happening in ARBUA. I say " BLOW THAT PLACE OFF THE MAP" I know their are alot of GOOD people there don't get me wrong, PLEASE. But when woman get raped and report it? The law there, DOES NOTHING! OR When young ladies go missing and still are missing, THEY DO NOTHING OR DID NOTHING AT THE TIME! That's just crazy. I do apologize if I offended anyone, that was NOT my intentions at all. I just think this all a a damn shame! 

No offense taken and you are damned right .. it is disgraceful.

[LilPuma]

I don't know what I'm allowed to say or what I'm allowed not to say but here it goes. I've been catching up on my reading with Natalee and I bought the book written by Dave Holloway, and so many AWFUL things have happened and are still happening in ARBUA. I say " BLOW THAT PLACE OFF THE MAP" I know their are alot of GOOD people there don't get me wrong, PLEASE. But when woman get raped and report it? The law there, DOES NOTHING! OR When young ladies go missing and still are missing, THEY DO NOTHING OR DID NOTHING AT THE TIME! That's just crazy. I do apologize if I offended anyone, that was NOT my intentions at all. I just think this all a a damn shame! 

Doesn't offend me at all.  I thought they should dig the place up, put it on barges and ship it to New Orleans to elevate the city above sea level, but so far the deal hasn't been worked out. 
 

[Nut44x4]

Anyone know how old Renfroe is? 

Ugh..... I used to know the answer to that. Crap, I have forgotten    sorry. IT HAS TO BE posted on SM somewhere!!

[LilPuma]

Lol @ sharon & johan. 

She would be 42.

 http://www.arubachamber.com/registry/registry_result.afp?KeyValue=29706

Thanks, VMS.  I just got back to the forum now to read this, but I appreciate the info.  I'm not an old stick-in-the-mud, but I do look for age appropriate attire and behavior to tell me something about people and that's why I asked.  Of course there's no age where some of Julia's behavior would be appropriate.   

[Nut44x4]

In those tumultuous first days, Beth's most valuable allies were Julia Renfro, the 37-year-old American-born editor of an English-language daily, Aruba Today, and one of her reporters, Angela Munzenhofer, a tough-talking American whose family runs one of the island's popular restaurants.
http://scaredmonkeys.net/index.php?topic=2870.0

[Dayhiker]

new safety info for aruba 

I would invest ($15-30.00) for a lock for your laptop.

I would also be very careful if you are staying away from the main tourist area, say in a house rental. Our friends (the ones that came to help us when we ran out of water) rent a house for a month every March (in the Noord area) and their house was robbed while they slept of jewerly, cash, camera, binoculars, wallets, etc. The house was fully alarmed, with the exception (which they did not realize) of the kitchen window, which turned out to be the point of entry.

There have been incidents of theft from hotel rooms and armed robberies have been known to occur. Valuables left unattended on beaches, in cars and in hotel lobbies are easy targets for theft.
Car theft, especially that of rental vehicles for joy riding and stripping, can occur. Vehicle leases or rentals may not be fully covered by local insurance when a vehicle is stolen or damaged. Be sure you are sufficiently insured when renting vehicles and jet skis.

We had our ipod stolen out of our room at divi dutch village last year. Security was useless.

Rules for teens:
You can get hurt, raped, or even very permanently dead.
Strangers are not your friends. They may become your friends sooner or later but they are not automatically your friends because they are cute or cool. They will give you the same lines you hear at home. Don’t believe them just because they are foreign.

 Don’t travel alone. Always have at least one person with you. There is safety in numbers. Let someone know where you will be at all times.

If you can't rent a place without getting broken into, which is common on Aruba, and have to guard your valuables from thieves wherever you go, and you have to travel in groups to be safe, and be aware of the locals because they are rapists and murderers, and have to worry about bartenders putting drugs in your drink, and have to worry about a corrupt law enforcement and judicial system working against you, what sense does it make even going there?

[Dayhiker]

Lol @ sharon & johan. 

She would be 42.

 http://www.arubachamber.com/registry/registry_result.afp?KeyValue=29706

Thanks, VMS.  I just got back to the forum now to read this, but I appreciate the info.  I'm not an old stick-in-the-mud, but I do look for age appropriate attire and behavior to tell me something about people and that's why I asked.  Of course there's no age where some of Julia's behavior would be appropriate.   

Heck, I thought she was in her early sixties. Seriously. She looks that old.

[Dayhiker]

I don't know what I'm allowed to say or what I'm allowed not to say but here it goes. I've been catching up on my reading with Natalee and I bought the book written by Dave Holloway, and so many AWFUL things have happened and are still happening in ARBUA. I say " BLOW THAT PLACE OFF THE MAP" I know their are alot of GOOD people there don't get me wrong, PLEASE. But when woman get raped and report it? The law there, DOES NOTHING! OR When young ladies go missing and still are missing, THEY DO NOTHING OR DID NOTHING AT THE TIME! That's just crazy. I do apologize if I offended anyone, that was NOT my intentions at all. I just think this all a a damn shame! 

Doesn't offend me at all.  I thought they should dig the place up, put it on barges and ship it to New Orleans to elevate the city above sea level, but so far the deal hasn't been worked out. 
 

I think they need to go back to growing sugarcane. As it stands now it's a farm for Holland to send all their corrupt politicians and reprobates.

[johan555]

Health Management is silent about  dengue mosquito
October 22, 2008, 14:59 (GMT -04:00)


ARUBA-ORANGE CITY - While dengue on St. Maarten and Saba the last time serious forms, and even on Bonaire is suspected that the dengue mosquito, has engaged in a march, the Department of Public Health in Aruba there remain silent. The Pan American Health Organization calls on residents of the Caribbean and north of the South American continent are now already on the daytime to avoid mosquito bites and the familiar precautions.

In early October, there is a 54-year-old man on St. Maarten deceased to the impact of dengue after a bite of the mosquito-dengue. Main reason of his death is that the man failed to call in medical assistance, notify the authorities. Yet it is a long time since the first dead as a result of the haemorrhagic form of dengue. Especially on the French side were there last August, September and October, many dengue patients. Meanwhile, a large part of the island sprayed with insectengif.

A suspected dengue outbreak in Saba during this period, researchers have traced back to St. Maarten where a number Sabans visit had made. Last year the Aruban government has expressed fears that the disease Aruba (earlier) can reach people traveling through the dengue virus entail.

Both in the general population by the editorial Amigoe has unsuccessfully tried by the Health Department about the dengue situation this autumn to get. There was, reported the government department, but waited at a joint press conference. It is now shortly before the deadline of Amigoe today announced for tomorrow morning.

[bastibro]

Well Johan, maybe they can be trained to choose their victims .  any ideas who . . ??    

[johan555]

Well Johan, maybe they can be trained to choose their victims .  any ideas who . . ??    

ha ha ,montanja 19 ?