Falcón merchants hope reactivation of flights with Aruba will boost local economy

Business owners in Venezuela's Falcón state are optimistic that the restart of air travel with Aruba will provide a significant boost to their local economy. They particularly anticipate a rise in medical tourism, a sector historically driven by visitors from the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao).

Juan Gotopo, a representative for the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism of La Vela de Coro, highlighted Aruba's importance as a market. He stated that the largest demand for health services in Falcón historically came from the island of Aruba. This renewed connectivity is expected to revitalize businesses and clinics that had previously adapted their infrastructure to cater to visitors from the ABC islands following the reestablishment of maritime and air links with Curaçao in 2023.

Authorities in Aruba have set August 1 as the official start date for air operations with Venezuelan territory. However, official details regarding the weekly flight frequencies and the specific airlines assigned to operate the route remain undisclosed. Merchants are hopeful that these details will be released soon, allowing them to fully prepare for the anticipated influx of visitors.

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For us, Aruba is a very important market. (It) is the largest demand that visited Falcón for health tourism came from the island of Aruba.