Anxious to kick-start its vital tourism industry, the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba has announced it has begun its vaccination programme.

The island has received its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccine and has started its immunisation programme. The roll-out began at the island's main Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital for front-line workers. Arubans now have access to four vaccination centres located across the island.

The tourism-dependent island has already put into place the Aruba Health & Happiness Code, a strict cleaning and hygiene certification programme that will be mandatory for all its tourism-related businesses. Simultaneously, a number of the island's major hotels have, naturally, implemented carefully-planned health and safety initiatives. The island is ready to welcome back UK travellers as soon as international travel is once again permitted.

The Aruba Health & Happiness Code certification will provide assurance that each business, recently extended to the island's taxi fleet, has taken every measure to offer a safe environment for staff and guests. The certification seal of approval will be displayed prominently on all tourism related businesses, and the certified businesses will also be found on the Department of Public Health website.

Aruba's health and safety protocols will provide a seamlessly secure and clean experience for visitors upon arrival. The Aruba Airport Authority has worked with the Department of Public Health and followed World Health Organisation guidelines to implement numerous measures such as screening, temperature checks, on-site medical professionals, social distance markers and additional shields and safeguards, mandatory PPE training for all staff, and more.

As arriving visitors leave the airport, they will find the Aruba Health & Happiness Code certification seal of approval on taxis/transport and on all hotels and other accommodation, restaurants and bars, casinos, shops, and tour operators.

All visitors to Aruba are required to complete an online Embarkation and Disembarkation form and have a Covid-19 test before or on arrival. Additionally, they must also take out compulsory Aruba Visitors Insurance to cover medical and other costs in the event that they contract coronavirus while on the island. This costs US$10 per day for the first seven days; US$7 per day for the following seven days; and US$3 per day thereafter.

The island has also set up a network of testing centres for any travellers who formally requires or simply wants to be tested for Covid-19 before returning home. A number of medical facilities around the island offer testing and they are also operating testing centres at two hotels: The Ritz-Carlton and Divi Dutch Village Resort.

For more information about Aruba, go to www.aruba.com

For further press information, please contact: Joanna Walding

Tel: 07950 131216

E-mail: j.walding@aruba.com

Aruba Tourism Authority – UK & Ireland

March 9, 2021

Note to editors: The Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba lies 15 miles north of the South American coastline, benefitting from year-round sunshine, an average temperature of 32 degrees and a cooling breeze. Located on the edge of the hurricane belt, with a nine mile stretch of award-winning pristine beach, turquoise seas, colonial Dutch architecture and a Latin vibe, Aruba is a delightful alternative Caribbean experience.