The former DOW building across the Port of Oranjestad has been unoccupied for the past 15 years since the DOW moved to their current building and is unattractive view for tourists arriving at the Port. The Government of Aruba has been exploring the possibilities for a while now and decided for the APA to take over the building and renovate this into offices for the APA. Soon the Port City project will initiate, and the APA will have to relocate to another building anyway.
The plan is to renovate the entire building and accommodate the APA on the second floor while setting up a Visitor Information Center on the ground floor. The Aruba Tourism Authority will rent the ground floor from the APA and create a visitor center on the entire lower floor. The Visitor Information Center will be located directly in the path of the cruise tourists arriving and easily accessible for all information.
The VIC will be a modern and luxurious location informing the tourists about Aruba, things to do, the best beaches, a list of restaurants and menus, nightlife, and transport. It will serve as a tourist guide for tourists as soon as they disembark the cruise ship.
The Council of Ministers approved the plans. In the attached announcement (in Dutch), you will find more information:
- 20230223 - Bekendmaking beleidsvoornemens m.b.t. ex-DOW gebouw (Announcement policy intentions regarding the ex-DOW building)
Soon they will publish more information in the media and on the Government's website. Soon this project will be officially launched by signing an MOU between the Minister of Tourism, the Government of Aruba, APA, ATA, the Monument Funds Foundation, and the Monuments Bureau.
The Minister hopes this all will be completed in 2023 to start with the renovations and for APA to relocate to the new building and have the ultra-modern Visitor Information Center operational.
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