Aruba Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Caribbean.

Area
193 sq km (74.5 sq miles).

Population
1010541 (2008).

Population Density
526 per sq km.

Capital
Oranjestad.
Population: 30,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Government
Dependency of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles.

Language
The official language is Dutch. English and Spanish are also spoken. The islanders also speak Papiamento, which is a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Indian languages.

Religion
82% of the population are Roman Catholic. There are also Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian and Jewish communities present.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
120 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Nelson Oduber since 2001.

Head of State
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor-General Fredis Refunjol since 2004.

Recent History
Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo (MEP) held onto its majority at the most recent poll in September 2005. Immigration and the economy dominated the campaign. Oduber has led the MEP since 1986. He was previously prime minister from 1989-1994 and won a second term in 2001.

Telephone
Country code: 297. Payphones are located all over the island. International phone cards are available from petrol stations, mini markets and supermarkets.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few mobile phone companies. Coverage is average.

Internet
Many hotels offer connections. Internet cafes are also available. Aruba has several Wi-Fi hotspots (www.wifi-aruba.com).

Post
Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1200 and 1300-1630.

Press
• The oldest established newspaper (in Dutch) is Amigoe di Aruba.
• Other papers include Aruba Today, Diario Aruba and Bon Dia.

Radio
• Radio stations include Radio Kelkboom, Magic 96.5 and Canal 90.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
25 Jan GF Croe's Day.
18 Mar National Anthem and Flag Day. 
10-13 Apr Easter.
30 Apr Queen's Birthday.
1 May Labor Day. 
21 May Ascension Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
25 Jan GF Croe's Day.
18 Mar National Anthem and Flag Day.
2-5 Apr Easter.
30 Apr Queen's Birthday.
1 May Labor Day.
13 May Ascension Day.
25-26 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
Aruba is a dependency of The Netherlands and represented abroad by Royal Netherlands Embassies – see The Netherlands section for Embassy contact details.

Aruba Tourism Authority in the UK
c/o The Saltmarsh Partnership, The Copperfields, 25d Copperfield Street, London SE1 0EN, UK
Tel: (020) 7928 1600.
Website: www.aruba.com

Aruba Tourism Authority in the USA
100 Plaza Drive, First Floor, Secausus, NJ 07094, USA
Tel: (201) 552 1110 or 1 800 862 7822.
Website: www.aruba.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.caribbean.co.uk


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