Aruba and it's people is what makes it a happy island. Our number plates prove it. One of the reasons that make Aruba a hot spot for relaxing and unwinding is it's pristine water and it's all-inclusive resorts. Although that sounds amazing, it's not. At least not for locals trying to make a living. Resorts keep the tourists in, keeping the money within the hotel areas. This means that the large corporations that have their resorts on Aruba, are keeping the majority of the income. Yes they hotels provide jobs for locals such as being a maid, waiter, bellboy, spa lady, etc. the rest of the island doesn't receive much from it.
So you have minimum wage earning waiters who pay a poop ton of money for their imported groceries. And that price keeps getting higher due to an increase of taxes because the government is either not getting anything or spending it in the wrong place (a combo of both really). So working on the minimum wage at basic position requires us to rely heavily on tips. And so we, as tour guides drain our energy every trip in hopes that a nice tip arrives at the end of the journey. However, our initial asking price is already high. 60USD(ppax) for a 2hr kayak trip. Many tourist assume that we get a large proportion of that. Wrong. Lets say you get 6 tourists (the average group size). That's 320USD for a total of 4hrs work. Now, you will then have 2 guides with you on this trip who will require pay. Then there are expensive fuel costs to pay for getting the trailer of kayaks to and from the location. Then there are health taxes to be paid and companies that helped you get these clients that need to be paid. This leaves the tourguides with 22USD ppax for 4 hours of work (roughly the minimum hourly living range) (2 hours tour, 1hr unloading, 1hr loading). Now don't get me wrong! I love and enjoy the work I did! However, the work an individual puts in for their job (the university degree, first aid work, NGB (non-governing body) awards & Certifications, makes things tough. I found that people really enjoyed their trips. Everytime I took them out guiding they where always intrigued in the fish, the beautiful water, and the joy of paddling on the ocean! I developed my skills in paddling, working with individuals, and understanding the importants of having a safety brief before the trip. People like to be informed. You may know what's going on but they don't! So tell them what's going to happen and look at their reactions! It will help create a better bond and may encourage them to give you a nice tip because you show that you care about their safety and enjoyment! I am forever grateful for my colleauges, my boss, and my participants! They have given me the best opportunity I could ask for while on the island! I now ask you as visitors or locals going on this trip, to ask about their work as a guide. You'll be impressed with their background and the amount of effort they put into their work so that you could enjoy your 2 hours on the sea! P.S. Consider staying at an Airbnb in Aruba, it helps the local economy a lot more than going to an all inclusive resort or a foreign hotel! You'll also be getting a more Aruban experience! Which of course means that you will really understand what makes us one happy island!
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May 2021
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