The members of the Aruba Timeshare Association, ATSA, convened for a lunch-meeting at La Cabana Beach Resort & Casino with representatives of most of the island’s Vacation Ownership Resorts in attendance.
They were welcomed by ATSA president, Sulaika Kelly, Playa Linda.
Among special guests for the March meeting, PFTSA, the Pension Fund Tourism Sector Aruba. Executive Director Natalia Lacle who joined the fund in 2020 as Pension Manager and became its Executive Director in 2024, came to the ATSA meeting to present the proposed changes suggested to the fund by the Aruba Government.
In her role as Executive Director Lacle nurtures relationships with 140 member companies and more than 6,000 active members. She oversees 17,000 policies and assets more than Awg 250 million. The fund is stable and strong, she explained, dedicated to serving all its members who save for their retirement and those who enjoy favorable mortgage terms.
PFTSA was founded in 1992 as an initiative of Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association and the FTA union, seeing that both shared the same vision in terms of the need to create a pension plan that will provide workers in the tourism industry an additional income after retirement, on top of the general old age pension, AOV, saved by the employer and employed, and paid out by the government.
At the meeting, Lacle explained pensions in general. She then outlined the proposed amendments to the National Ordinance General Pension. She talked extensively about the activities and services of the pension fund and the added value it brings to its members as a not-for-profit organization.
While the changes are minor, she stated, they will take time, since a lengthy process must take place before the amendments to the National Ordinance General Pension are introduced.
In addition to the information shared regarding pensions the forum also approved the ATSA meeting minutes from February, and received committee update presentations, as well as resorts’ updates.
Board Treasurer Jurgen van Schaijk, reported that the TPF activities are on hold until new board members are introduced. Aruba’s Tourism Product Enhancement Fund is involved with many beautification projects and has submitted its suggestions waiting for them to be approved by the new board.
All board members agreed that a revised beach policy with clear rules must be complied and made public as soon as possible. It must be adopted by all stakeholders, including DIP, the department of infrastructure and planning, as well as KPA, the local police. The revised policy must also address gasoline pollution from watersports activities, the kind of suntan lotions available for sale on the island and safety preoccupations, among many other pending issues.
Members were reminded of the upcoming turtle nesting season and their commitment to be mindful and dim lights, in protection of the island’s annual visitor.
The Security foundation, operating the Tourism Security Patrol Aruba will be expanding its activities to cover more areas, in the tourist zones.
Regarding the activities of AWSS, Aruba Water Sustainable Solution, real progress was reported, and members are satisfied with the level of cooperation with that new company, working on sustainable wastewater management at three points on the island, in St Nicolas, Parkietenbos and Bubali.
In the free word round table discussions all resorts reported great improvements and upgrades to their facilities, including improved WIFI capabilities, digital communications, solar panel installation, improved streaming in rooms, new elevators, painted interiors and exteriors, handicapped bathrooms, recycling of glass and aluminum, new windows and doors, even a syntropic agroforestry garden at La Quinta growing fresh vegetables for the resident restaurant and staffers, and plans to attract younger demographics to the timeshare resorts.
ATSA was set up in 1994, and currently counts the active membership of the majority of vacation ownership properties in Aruba. The Association works on a local level and with other local organizations as well as Government entities. On a regional level, where Aruba continues to receive recognition as a model vacation ownership destination, ATSA has professional ties with ARDA, the American Resort Development Association.
The ATSA Board members: Sulaika Kelly, President, Rina Geerman, Secretary, Pedro Vargas, Board member, Jurgen van Schaijk, Treasurer and Luigi Heredia, Board member.
