According to a new press release, United Tour Operators (Tour Operators Uni) has submitted a concrete nature protocol to the government, through which the UTV and ATV sector aims to take responsibility for nature conservation. The proposal includes clearly marked routes, the closure of secondary paths leading to vulnerable areas, GPS monitoring, speed limits, guide training, sanctions for violations, and the planting of 250 native trees over three years. The organization asserts that responsible tourism and nature conservation can coexist, provided access is based on facts, clear rules, and effective enforcement.
The statement dated September 30 follows weeks of consultations between the government and the tourism sector regarding the future of motorized access along parts of Aruba’s northern coast. On September 9, the government and several tour operators signed a protocol paving the way for discussions on topics such as regulated access, finalized routes, geofencing, monitoring, noise levels, enforcement, and sanctions. That document explicitly did not constitute a final agreement on which routes would remain open or closed. The new proposal from United Tour Operators goes significantly further regarding practical implementation.
Physically demarcating routes One of the key components is the visible marking of permitted routes. United Tour Operators aims to protect vulnerable areas and close secondary paths that branch off from existing routes into sensitive terrain. By doing so, the organization seeks to prevent vehicles from leaving established paths to carve out new tracks through vegetation or dunes. This aligns with a previous sector proposal to maintain a corridor approximately six meters wide where possible. The rationale is that drivers must be able to see clearly where they are permitted to steer and where they are not.
GPS and a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour The new Nature Protocol adds technical monitoring measures to these guidelines. United Tour Operators proposes GPS monitoring combined with a general maximum speed limit of 40 kilometers per hour. According to the proposal, this speed would be reduced to 20 kilometers per hour on unpaved roads passing through residential areas. In doing so, the organization aims not only to record rules on paper, but also to make compliance measurable. For instance, GPS data can provide insight into whether a vehicle actually stayed within a designated route and the speed at which it traveled.
Company accountability for violations Another notable aspect is the proposed accountability of the companies themselves. United Tour Operators wants companies to be held responsible for environmental violations occurring within the scope of their operations. Competent authorities could impose escalating fines and penalties for rule violations. Additionally, the organization proposes guide training, clear identification of authorized operators, and measures to curb unauthorized commercial tours. According to the release, the sector aims to distinguish between regulated professional activities and commercial operations occurring outside the official framework.
250 native trees The proposal also features a restoration and compensation component. United Tour Operators plans to plant a total of 250 native trees over a three-year period. This will occur only following ecological approval and in collaboration with the Aruba Conservation Foundation (Fundacion Conservacion Aruba). The proposal requests government support for the necessary water infrastructure and the irrigation of young plants. The proposal thus goes beyond the mere question of which roads remain accessible; according to the release, the sector also wishes to actively commit to nature conservation.
Field visit with Herdé and DNM The new statement also references the recent site visit with Minister René Herdé and the Department of Nature and Environment (DNM). That visit had already been reported independently. Representatives of United Tour Operators accompanied Herdé and DNM Director Gisbert Boekhoudt to Tera Cora to inspect vulnerable areas, Shoco (burrowing owl) nesting sites, and other environmental matters on the ground. According to reports, it was strictly an exploratory visit, and no decisions regarding the future route were made at that time. United Tour Operators states that these types of visits are particularly valuable as they allow the scientific knowledge of nature experts to be combined with the daily practical experience of those working on the trails.
Focus on existing dirt roads in sector’s stance The organization once again distinguishes between driving on existing unpaved public roads and driving off-road. According to United Tour Operators, its position centers on the responsible use of existing public dirt roads—routes that operators claim to have been using for decades. At the same time, the organization acknowledges that even existing roads can impact nature and the environment. Consequently, the statement notes that factors such as speed, vehicle volume, frequency, dust, noise, and proximity to vulnerable habitats must be analyzed.
However, United Tour Operators maintains that driving on an existing route is distinct from driving directly through vegetation or dunes, and that these activities must be evaluated separately. The organization asserts that reckless driving and damage to vulnerable areas have no place in responsible tourism.
Invitation to Aruba Birdlife Conservation remains open United Tour Operators also states that it still wishes to engage in dialogue with Aruba Birdlife Conservation (ABC). According to the press release, Greg Peterson was invited to meetings on September 4, 15, and 24, but did not attend. Based on available documents, Amigoe cannot independently verify the terms under which these invitations were extended or why ABC did not participate in those specific meetings.
It is confirmed, however, that ABC held separate discussions with the government after the court granted the country a five-week period to seek a solution. United Tour Operators says it is keeping its invitation for direct consultation open.
From general promises to measurable rules This new proposal is significant because the government’s previous protocol primarily outlined topics for discussion. According to the organization, United Tour Operators’ “Nature Protocol” now includes more concrete measures: speed limits, GPS monitoring, route demarcation, corporate accountability, and nature restoration. It is not yet known whether the government will adopt these proposals in whole or in part. Nor has it been determined whether all components are legally and ecologically feasible within the framework of the ROPV (Spatial Development Plan with Regulations), nature conservation legislation, the status of existing roads, and ongoing legal proceedings.
Nevertheless, the sector is putting forward a concrete proposal that can be evaluated. United Tour Operators’ core message is that it does not advocate for reducing nature protection, but rather for combining protection with regulated access and clear accountability. According to Marvin Kelly, the same principle must ultimately apply to everyone: clear limits, clear rules, and consequences for those who violate them.
