The California Alto Vista route is available to tour operators again while the Aruba government and the industry work through a five-week period aimed at reaching practical rules for responsible access to the island’s natural areas.
Tour Operators Uni said Prime Minister Mike Eman gave operators permission to resume using the route between the California Lighthouse and Alto Vista while the discussions continue. The development follows Wednesday’s signing of the “Protocolo di Maneho Responsabel den Naturalesa,” or protocol for responsible management in nature.
Operators ask for a clearly marked route
The operators are asking the government to delineate a six-meter-wide route as soon as possible. They say a clearly defined corridor would help drivers remain on the approved path and reduce the risk of vehicles entering protected or sensitive terrain.
The temporary access does not settle the wider legal and environmental dispute. Instead, it gives the parties time to translate the protocol into practical measures. Subjects under discussion include geofencing, guide certification, supervision, enforcement and sanctions for violations.
Tour Operators Uni described the talks as a notable change after years of tension over access. The group said operators have come together in this form for the first time and believe they can contribute to a workable solution that protects nature while allowing regulated commercial tours.
Legal framework remains part of the talks
The organization is also seeking changes to, or implementation of, articles 13 and 14 of the ROPV planning framework. Its stated aim is to give legal recognition to established roads that operators say have been used since the 1980s.
That request will require government and parliamentary consideration. Any permanent arrangement will need to balance tourism activity, access, enforcement and Aruba’s responsibility to protect vulnerable landscapes.
What happens next
The parties now have five weeks to continue their work. A parliamentary meeting is expected to clarify the government’s position, while the related court case has been postponed until October 15.
Until a final framework is adopted, the route reopening should be understood as an interim development during negotiations rather than a final resolution of the dispute.
Source: Information based on reporting from 24ora.
