Related to the Natalee Holloway case
Tourism has practically not declined
however, Americans want information on the Holloway case, when coming across people from Aruba
DIARIO Aruba
10/19/2005
ORANJESTAD (AAN): During the AHATA press conference, DIARIO asked about the latest developments in regards to the issue of the Aruba boycott Beth Twitty asked for.
According to the AHATA CEO, who also forms part of the Strategic Communications Task Force, there are rumours circulating that Beth Twitty will soon come back to Aruba, however it is his understanding that for the time being, she is not coming back.
According to Pesquera, the media attention is now sporadic. DIARIO asked Pesquera what are his thoughts about the possibility that she will come back to Aruba soon.
According to AHATA’s CEO, it will be good for the people of Aruba to do what they have always done, which is to treat all people with respect and remain a people of warmth, which we are known to be.
DIARIO asked Jeff Lesker how he feels with the effects until now, in regards to American tourists, especially those who have never come to Aruba.
According to Lesker, we cannot forget that the mother is still suffering due to her daughter being still missing.
He continued to say that although he respects Beth Twitty’s opinion, that is perhaps not correct, but has to be above all be respected. However, Lesker showed that when speaking of a boycott, when this normally takes place, is when a country for example produces nuclear arms or something along these lines.
According to Lester, it is important for the correct information about the aspects of the case to reach the mother, so that she doesn’t use incorrect information in the future, and in so doing shine a negative light on Aruba.
Lesker continues to say that either Beth Twitty likes to use incorrect information (which according to Lesker he doesn’t believe to be the case), or the mother has much incorrect information that she has found.
With regards to the opinion of potential tourists, Lesker says that now that they are promoting Aruba out of the country, the first thing that Americans are asking if they know you are from Aruba, is for information about the case, to get a more clear perspective of what has happened and not happened.
Especially seeing that there are many people who saw the Dr. Phil program, Lesker explains that if, that he feels that things are changing in a positive manner for us, in what relates to the Natalee Holloway case, because people are starting to get tired of the case where there are no new developments ahead.
The press asked Jorge Pesquera if people of the Task Force or others from Aruba succeeded in speaking to Dr. Phil, however Pesquera explains that they tried to get in touch with a Dr. Phil producer to find out if there’s going to be a 2nd part to the case of Natalee Holloway, to in this way also give their view on the program and if there is a possibility see the other side of the coin.
With regards to taking legal steps against the mother or Dr. Phil, Pesquera explains that experts indicated that this would not be a good idea. According to AHATA’s president, Jeff Lesker, a good idea to deal with the issue is to first to deal with tourism.
He explains that now that things are slow with tourism, a lot of people believe that at this time, it isn’t good to engage in marketing projects. According to Lesker it is just at this time that it will be good to have a good marketing plan in place.
Lesker explains that Aruba is now working hard to promote the island, in order to be in solid standing. He explains that perhaps tourism is a little down when compared to last year, however last year was a record one.
According to AHATA’s president, ATA, under the guidance of the government, is also focusing on this and is hard at work on ‘Marketing’, especially seeing that it has a tourism budget of 40 million, compared with the 3 million AHATA has for the same.
[translated by Getagrip]
