Tourism & Air Connectivity: Aruba’s tourism keeps climbing: June 2026 delivered 143,343 stay-over arrivals (+13.4% y/y) and 845,501 arrivals in the first half (+10.9%), with South America surging as the U.S. remains the biggest source market. Travel Deals: Divi Resorts launched a Caribbean Summer Blowout with up to 40% off (code BLOWOUT26) for stays through Dec. 20, 2026, including Aruba properties. Airline Expansion: Southwest will add Saturday-only nonstop service between Nashville and Aruba starting March 2027, boosting direct U.S. access. Local Business & Permits: Local merchants are alarmed by Department of Public Works permit backlogs, with businesses waiting over a year for responses, and calls for staffing and clear output numbers. Public Finance & Governance: In Sint Maarten, a “Jasmine” corruption case ended with convictions tied to fraud and money laundering connected to government projects. Education Funding Pressure: MPs say schools are in dire need of repairs and funding, pointing to a 700 million florin surplus but urgent maintenance gaps. Workforce Support: Aruba’s DAS reported results from its “In The Picture” program, with 19 participants returning to work and a new edition starting Aug. 24. Healthcare Quality: The Aruba Public Health Inspectorate is preparing IVA 2026, a full conference on healthcare safety and risk management.