Aruba

Overview

The visitor should not plan a trip here under the misapprehension that they are going to a Caribbean island steeped in culture or for that matter a great deal of foliage and natural attractions. They are going to a desert island (clearly a well developed one however) that caters perfectly for the tourist trade. One coast has heavenly palm fringed beaches, the other is jagged and rocky. Weather here is not an issue with a year round temperature that should keep those interested in beaches very happy. This is important as the beach and sea are the main reasons that people make the frequently long trip to get away and enjoy the weather and watersports (windsurfing and water skiing particularly).

Aruba is also a lively island with high-rise resorts and posh casinos,discos, cabarets and dinner shows lining its beaches.

History

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990. Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level.