Kelly Calls for Balance, Not a Ban
Aruba vacation rental regulation is back in the political discussion after AVP parliamentarian Dennerick Kelly called for a balance between tourism income and residents’ access to housing.
Kelly said his position is not a campaign against Airbnb or vacation rentals. He acknowledged that Aruban homeowners may depend on renting part of a property for extra income, while arguing that government should respond when growth begins to create wider pressure.
2023 Figures Point to Housing Pressure
Citing 2023 research, Kelly said Aruba had more than 4,000 registered Airbnb properties. He described that as roughly 11 percent of the island’s approximately 38,000 homes, with vacation rentals accounting for about 25 percent of housing in Noord.
Kelly linked that concentration to a more difficult market for residents, especially young Arubans returning home who want to buy a property. The figures were presented by Kelly as evidence for a policy response rather than a prohibition.
Lawmaker Seeks Action After Earlier Policy Talks
Kelly noted that officials said in 2024 that legislation for the sector was in its final phase. He argued that the scale shown by the housing figures now requires direct action so growth does not continue without clear controls.
His stated objective is a framework that protects legitimate small-scale rental income while addressing pressure on the supply and cost of homes for people who live and work in Aruba.
Source: 24ora.
