Tourism in Aruba continues to show strong momentum in 2025, with steady growth in visitor spending and travel activity across key markets. Recent figures from the Aruba Tourism Authority (A.T.A.) highlight a positive start to the year, driven by increased credit card usage, rising visitor numbers, and strong performance in both traditional and short-term accommodations.
In the first quarter of 2025, visitors using Visa credit cards spent more than USD $201 million in Aruba. A total of 296,601 cardholders from 134 countries made purchases on the island, representing an 8.8% increase in total sales compared to the same period in 2024.
This rise in spending reflects a 7% increase in the number of cardholders and a 10.4% jump in transaction volume. Cash withdrawals using Visa cards reached USD $17 million. On average, spending per cardholder increased by 1.9% year-over-year.
Restaurants and dining remained the top spending category, generating USD $58 million—a growth of 11.2%. Hotels and lodging followed with USD $49.6 million, a 12.8% increase, not including prepaid bookings made prior to arrival. Retail ranked third at USD $43.3 million, marking a 2.5% increase.
According to the latest forecasts, Aruba’s stay-over arrivals are expected to grow by at least 5% by the end of 2025. This growth trend is expected across all key regions, including the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Tourism update: May 2025 stay-over arrivals up 5.3% compared to May 2024
Aruba welcomed 117,125 stay-over visitors in May 2025, an increase of 5.3% or 5,945 more tourists compared to the same month in 2024. The strongest growth came from Latin America, particularly Argentina (up 155.6%), Brazil (up 51.8%), and Peru (up 21.4%). The North American market grew by 3.0%, while Canada saw a notable 41.3% increase.
In May 2025, 78.4% of stay-over visitors came from North America, followed by 14.2% from South America and 4.6% from Europe. Although the British market saw a slight decline, European countries like Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium showed moderate growth.
The total number of nights spent on the island rose by 0.7% compared to May 2024, driven largely by longer stays from Argentine and Brazilian visitors.
Short-term vacation rentals show continued growth
(A.T.A. continues to use the Lighthouse platform to monitor short-term vacation rentals. The platform provides data on average nightly rates, occupancy, and estimated revenue.
In May 2025, average occupancy for short-term rentals rose to 52.9%, up from 51.8% in May 2024.
Short-term vacation rentals – Key data
| Year | Occupancy | Revenue | Average Daily Rate (ADR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 35.6% | $200 | $5,285,899 |
| 2021 | 45.6% | $220 | $8,813,340 |
| 2022 | 63.7% | $237 | $15,278,514 |
| 2023 | 56.5% | $265 | $18,950,075 |
| 2024 | 51.8% | $296 | $22,886,403 |
| 2025 | 52.9% | $327 | $31,202,200 |
For more detailed tourism data, visit www.ata.aw and check A.T.A.’s Statistical Monthly Report.
