Lively Case Discussion #540 11/1 - 11/5/2006

[klaasend]

Posted by MF at FOB:  

ORANJESTAD -  You can constantly hear opposition politicians telling the public that the Tourism in Aruba is in crisis and that Aruba lost a big percentage of its market and other Caribbean destinations are seeing increase in tourism in double digits, while Aruba's is going down, something that the Minister of Tourism in Aruba does not agree with.

The Minister reacted on different political articles that has been posted the last weeks in newspapers and on certain TV news programs. All these articles were made with the intention to put Aruba's tourism is negative light.

Minister Briesen thinks that it's time to put the tourism's situation on another note. 'cause it's getting tired that everything is blamed on the Government, even if it rains. He informed that he attended the region's largest conference which was recently held, the Caribbean Tourism Conference 29th edition.

He said that the information that was given are totally different from that from the opposition party and newspapers. If you compare numbers for the first 6 months of 2006, you will get that:

Aruba had a -8.8% increase. Bonaire had a -4.8% increase, US Virgin Islands -5.3% increase, Cancun -32.4% increase, Guyana -4.1% increase, Martinique -3.1% increase, Puerto Rico -1.7% increase and Sint Maarten -1.5% increase.

Destinations that saw an increase in tourism numbers for example are Jamaica with 19.8% and Saba with 30.8% but yet, you still not can get a clear view of the situation, because using Saba as an example, the high number and percentage comes when for every 70 tourist that comes extra, the percentage goes up with 10.

What politicians and critics must check is the amount of rooms available, this year and the last one, see and understand the differences before making any comment on tourism. You can try to scare people or create panic by just putting numbers out without the proper investigation and explanation.

The President of the Parliamentary commission about tourism, Otmar Oduber (AVP) is using scare tactics and using this commission politically for his benefit.

If you compare the preliminary numbers for August 2006, almost every single island in the Caribbean had a negative increase of 7%. But Aruba got a positive 2.5% increase. From the total overall tourists, the American market saw a -2.7 increase.

So, if you have a -8.8% increase for the period of January - June 2006, you will see that this number changes to -5.9 for the period of January - August 2006. You can call that crisis, but hotels illustrate otherwise. Because the financial gain lies in the number of nights, which has only seen a -1.7% increase, which is not a crisis situation anywhere in the world, and the reason is found in the numbers of rooms not available at this moment.

The Wyndham Resort which is undergoing an upgrade, renovation to become the next Westin Resort has SEVEN floors out of service. The Hyatt is undergoing renovations, Aruba Grand has 137 rooms closed, the Occidental hotel is still running with 50% of it's rooms, because the other 50% are still not ready. Not to forget the Holiday Inn also has another 200 rooms out of service for upgrading.

The Minister believes that the time has come to stop with these lies and try to create panic in the community and start giving the public the correct information.

[mrs. red]

Tyler, I am glad to see you.... you were in my prayers!

[mrs. red]

Dang Klaasend..they don't understand negative numbers...

[klaasend]

Dang Klaasend..they don't understand negative numbers...

I know, lol    It's like going to Las Vegas and putting $100 in a slot machine and walking away with $50 thinking you won, lol  

[mrs. red]

Dang Klaasend..they don't understand negative numbers...

I know, lol    It's like going to Las Vegas and putting $100 in a slot machine and walking away with $50 thinking you won, lol  

exactly... so I spent $300 at the poker table but I got away with $25... wow.... I am sooooooooo lucky...

[mrs. red]

Ok the first SNL with Darrell Hammond playing Chris Matthews was funny.....

 am I all alone??

[2NJSons_Mom]

Dang Klaasend..they don't understand negative numbers...

I know, lol    It's like going to Las Vegas and putting $100 in a slot machine and walking away with $50 thinking you won, lol  

When my Mom used to play bingo, I'd ask how she did and she'd say I won half my $ back.  I'd say you lost half....but she'd never give in...it's a mind set you can't break.....ugh.

[klaasend]

Ok the first SNL with Darrell Hammond playing Chris Matthews was funny.....

 am I all alone??

I'm going to watch SNL but not for another 3 hours, lol  

[klaasend]

Mrs. Red - did you know that in real life Darrell Hammond and Chris Mathews are friends?

[mrs. red]

Mrs. Red - did you know that in real life Darrell Hammond and Chris Mathews are friends?

doesn't really surprise me...but he is sooooooooo funny when he acts like Chris Matthews...

NJ mom.. my sister is the same way... LOL

[mrs. red]

Ok... going to run out ... I think I am talking to myself...

have a great nite...

and keep the faith

[igsigs]

Posted by MF at FOB:  

Aruba had a -8.8% increase.

A negative increase?     What kind of spin is that?

[LilPuma]

Ok... going to run out ... I think I am talking to myself...

have a great nite...

and keep the faith

Mrs. Red, my computer took an unexpected and unauthorized dinner break and I couldn't get back on.    Yes, I think you would like Breakfast at Tiffanys.  It's a great love story.  Like Casablanca, everyone should see it at least once.   And thanks to Carnut for giving a response when I couldn't.

[2NJSons_Mom]

Posted by MF at FOB:  

Aruba had a -8.8% increase.

A negative increase?     What kind of spin is that?

Because the financial gain lies in the number of nights, which has only seen a -1.7% increase, which is not a crisis situation anywhere in the world, and the reason is found in the numbers of rooms not available at this moment

Here is the explanaton, igs....it's so easy to understand.... ....maybe it's too late for me...carry on....my best, as always.

PS....having pc issues here, now....trojan thingys...etc....scans & adaware have not cured all.  Hope to clear up issues by AM.  Goodnight.

[Kat_Gram]

If they take some rooms and move them from available to unavailable
due to " upgrades " and use the " available "  rooms as the base, well then, the occupany rate goes up, just by moving the numbers around.
Gee, that was kinda easy. Could have a 100 % occupancy rate overnight. [/b]

[Anna]

Posted by MF at FOB:  

Aruba had a -8.8% increase.

A negative increase?     What kind of spin is that?

Aruban Math:



I think in order for these tourism numbers to mean very much, they do need a dollar amount affixed to them.  With the deep discounts being given, renting a room for $100 is not the same as renting it for $500.

But the minus increase must be how Joran adds up his winnings in the casino as well.     Maybe Red will be able to get the dollar amounts from the central bank as before.  And so if tourism is up then Arubans should be delighted and very happy with it all and no longer feel the need to express such animosity toward Natalee's family.  

[LilPuma]

Aruban Math:

ROFLMBO!!!      
Thanks Anna.  I don't have much to smile about lately, but that made me laugh.  I'll go to bed giggling about it.  
 

Night everyone.

[nonesuche]

Anna        TOUCHE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post of the day    

Klaas-

Your new animation of the disco rats is another masterpiece

[Tylergal]

Thanks, All.  You have been great and I am so happy you have kept intersted in Natalee.  I thought about her today.  I had to go into town to pick up some paint.   I bought the wrong kind Thursday.  

When I was coming home, I looked at the sky and the sun reminded me of that sun in the picture of Natalee and her friends on the beach.  I was just thinking of how lonesome the day must look for Beth, if she saw the same sun today that I saw and if she thought that sunset on Natalee and it never came up for her again.  I thought about that, how hard it must be to see that sun going down on an island where so many are having fun, while others are creating mischief and doing evil things and those who caused the sun to go down on Natalee are still seeing it come up everyday without a thought to what a beautiful light they snuffed out.  Shame on them.  I was so sad when I got home thinking about how Beth must think how the sun went down and Natalee was so pretty at sunset and she never saw the break of dawn again and Paulus vanderSloot knows what happened to Natalee and is responsible for all the suffering she has endured and as an adult, a man of the law, he should kill himself just to make the world a better place.  I hate them too, Robots.  I hate them all and I agree with them being BB's.

[Tylergal]

Anna, you explained it so well.  It's "fuzzy math."