Boycott Aruba: Wikis

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The Boycott Aruba campaign emerged in 2005 after criticism of the investigation of the dissapearance of an American woman, Natalee Holloway. Holloway is one of several missing tourists in Aruba and other Caribbean-area islands. Some draw comparisons between the Holloway case and the disapearance of Amy Lynn Bradley, who disappeared on a cruise ship en route to Curacao.

On Friday July 22 2005, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a resolution asking Alabama residents not to visit Aruba until the Holloway case was resolved. special session . No action has been taken by the Alabama Senate.

Natalee Holloway's stepfather, Jug Twitty wrote Alabama Governor Bob Riley on August 4, 2005, asking Alabama not to boycott Aruba. [2099]

Renewal of Boycott

On September 11, 2005, Holloway's mother, Beth Twitty, alleged that the Aruban authorities had a confession from Joran van der Sloot that he had sex with Natalee "as she was coming in and out of consciousness". Mrs. Twitty asked Americans not to travel to Aruba.

Aruban Response

In response to the initial call for boycott, Aruban boosters formed the Strategic Communications Task Force, to "address the issues surrounding the disappearance of Natalee Holloway." The group included members of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association, the Aruba Tourism Authority, the Aruba Hospitality & Security Foundation, the Aruban Chamber of Commerce and the government, including Ruben Trappenberg, the public relations representative. The group formed a blog, appeared on news media, issued press releases and e-mailed bloggers covering the story.

In response to the renewal of the call for boycott in September, the Aruban government and its supporters criticised it, and characterized it as a "blacklist".

On September 24, 2005, Jeff Lesker of the Strategic Communications Task Force.
said, This will blow over in Amigoe Magazine.

Notable Supporters and Opponents

Lionel Waxman On September 12, columnist Lionel Waxman noted: "My mail is starting to run heavy with resentful Americans who want to boycott Aruba. Personally, I do not favor such a boycott. It will not produce any evidence or interfere with the corruption. It will punish the innocent people who rely on tourism for their livelihood." 1

Dr. Phil On September 15, 2005, American talk-show host Phil McGraw urged Americans to "Boycott Aruba".

John Walsh On September 18, 2005, Walsh, himself the father of a murdered son who became a victim's rights advocate, joined the "boycott".

Dave Holloway On September 21, 2005, Dave Holloway, Natalee's father, was quoted by the Aruban Tourist Bureau as distancing himself from the "blacklisting" of Aruba.

Boycott

Ethical Consumerism

Joran van der Sloot