The Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) is proud to present its first Eco-Conscious session in collaboration with the Aruba Conservation Foundation (ACF), formerly known as the Aruba National Park Foundation (FPNA). The session was presented by Marisol Sanchez – Communications Manager of A.T.A., Derchlien Dijkhoff – Senior Product Specialist of A.T.A., Stephanie Casanova – SVP Consumer Communications of the international agency Zeno Group, Tyson Lopez – CEO of ACF, Natasha Silva – Chief Conservation Officer of ACF, and Edeline Berg – Communications & Marketing Manager of ACF.
A.T.A. and ACF recognize the importance of raising awareness among local partners about being conscious of the impact we each have on our island and how we can work together towards responsible and sustainable tourism. To achieve this, A.T.A. is implementing a communication approach that involves the local community, education, engagement, and participation, with the goal of jointly, as organizations, community, and partners, moving in the right direction.
A critical aspect highlighted was the importance of conserving and protecting our natural environment, particularly recognizing the unique biodiversity our island possesses.
The first session included presentations on global trends, such as the ‘Slow Travel Tourism’ movement, which involves visitors taking the time to explore the places they visit. Also discussed was the ‘Positive Impact Tourism’ movement, which emphasizes and focuses on minimizing negative impacts on the host country.
During the session, ideas and communication concepts were shared that relate to these topics. Emphasis was also placed on how to adjust and improve communication methods and content, while maintaining the company’s purpose of selling a product or service to visitors. It is worth mentioning that A.T.A. will soon reactivate the ‘Aruba Promise’ program, which sets standards and behaviors for both visitors and locals, creating a cycle of information. All of this aims to add more direction towards low-impact tourism.
Looking to the future, A.T.A. is committed to continuing to work on tourism that balances economic prosperity with care for our environment and the well-being of our locals.
A.T.A. thanks all partners who participated in the first session and will continue with the next session in a few weeks.
