During the conference of Friday May 8, 2020, Aruba Minister of Tourism Mr. Dangui Oduber announced that Aruba is slowly preparing to re-open our borders with a TENTATIVE date for July 1, 2020, possibly with a soft opening a week or two prior to that date.

As was announced a week earlier, the internal economy will be gradually re-open and by June 15, the internal economy should be completely open in the “new normal”. So the next logical step is to start preparing to re-open the external economy as well.

The July 1st date is TENTATIVE and depends on the local situation being fully under control as well as many other factors and protocols that would need to be in place.

Not all airlines will be flying in. As of now Jetblue, American Airlines, Spirit, Copa and Avianca are on board.

Many protocols are being drafted for (and by) hotel, restaurants, establishment, the airport, taxis, car rental places, airlines and these need to be in place before opening the borders.

Each will have to have different protocols in place with social distancing and cleanliness as the government of Aruba’s main goal is to keep everyone on the island and their tourists safe, and to provide good quality health care, if and when needed.

This too shall pass, and we will rise as a much stronger and resilient country.

Please stay safe and healthy everyone.