Aruba This parched speck of an island off the coast of Venezuela has guaranteed sunshine and is blessed with beaches that make you say 'ahhh.' Tourism is the big business here and it's served in a flavorsome double scoop of beach beaus and sun bunnies from North America and Holland, and Latin coastal coasters, nearly all of them on circuit-breaker trips to pep up winter suntans, prop at the poolside bar and try their luck at the casinos. Although large-scale tourism dominates the island (read: luxury resorts from here to sunset), there are still undeveloped areas on the exposed northern coast, and much of the interior is inhabited by nothing more substantial than goats and contorted divi-divi trees. In this region, the triple whammy of a dry climate, salt-loaded seaspray and relentless trade winds has created a wonderfully surreal landscape with more than a passing resemblance to the images Pathfinder sent back to Earth from Mars. Area: 75 sq miles (194 sq km)
Population: 68,675
Capital city: Oranjestad (pop 20,500)
Language: Dutch, Papiamento, plus English and Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic (82%), Protestant, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim
Government: Autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Governor: Olindo Koolman
Prime Minister Nelson Oduber GDP: US$1.5 billion
GDP per head: US$22,000
Inflation: 3%
Major industries: Tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining, offshore banking, phosphates
Major trading partners: USA, EU, The Netherlands, Japan |
