Aruba is an island where the homes are always open to let in the cool caress of the constant tradewind and to receive friends and family with a warm welcome. It is a community known for its authentic hospitality, a community that comes together to share in neighborhood domino games, and a community where children can freely and happily play outside.

Imagine an island with vast, open spaces marked by stunning, rugged landscapes, scenic beaches and an extensive array of flora and fauna.

Imagine a community that takes care of its seniors and each other.

Imagine a community that values its diversity; a diversity that has existed for centuries.

Imagine Aruba.... Your Aruba....

Welcome to Nos Aruba 2025!
Through the centuries, Aruba's inhabitants have shown resilience, determination, creativity and a unique ability to press forward. Over the years, people from all over the world have made their way to Aruba, and have contributed their own talents and traditions to the island's colorful culture.

In its recent history, Aruba has gone through many economic and political changes. The closing of the oil refinery (1985) signaled the start of a new era that came with economic hardship, but which also took the island into a positive, new direction. In 1986, Aruba obtained its Status Aparte as well as undertook greater efforts in seeking out economic success through tourism. Enormous economic growth was accompanied by increases in the Aruban population. The ability to transform these challenges into positive results speaks for the strength and unique nature of the Aruban character. Nowadays, Aruba's tourism industry serves as an example to many other destinations in the Caribbean.

The size of the Aruban population now stands at more than 105,000 inhabitants. The rate at which the population has expanded, in a relatively short period of time, has put pressure on our educational system, public health care and the environment. Our community has become aware of imbalances and is now demanding improvements in education, public health and environmental protections in establishing a more harmonious situation. In order to reach a balance in the social, economic and environmental sector of Aruba, the work towards sustainable development must be increased. Therefore, the main goal of Nos Aruba 2025 is to develop a sustainable Aruba for the benefit of all people and stakeholders of Aruba and that has a future for our children and our grandchildren which will make them proud to be Arubans. In order to reach sustainable development a broad range of stakeholders are involved in Nos Aruba 2025. Presently, a broad range of stakeholders have their own vision on sustainable development, the way it should be planned and how this vision is articulated in the different strategic plans. Additionally, a consistent and coherent process, including guidelines for long term planning and cooperation, is lacking. This leads to uncoordinated initiatives of the concerned stakeholders.

Based on the above, it is important for the sustainable development of Aruba that guidelines are determined on the economic, environmental and social elements of development planning. Also there should be coordination and cohesion between all stakeholders involved in development planning. In addition, the process of integrated development planning must also be institutionalized. Furthermore a national long term strategy, focusing on an interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach leading to a National and Integrated Strategic Plan (NISP), is essential. This plan should describe long term strategies linked to national goals and the way these strategies will be implemented. Long term for this purpose means a period of fifteen years. Since this will be a national plan, it is advisable that stakeholders who have a lot of influence on the realization of sustainable development participate actively on the multi-dimensional process. This will lead to one national and integrated strategic plan. The influential stakeholders are the Aruban government, the non-governmental organizations, the Parliament and the private sector. The development of a broad support in the community enhances the expertise in this area and increases the possibility for a successful implementation of the plan. It is the intention that all stakeholders come together every three years to evaluate and update the plan. At the end the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Aruba should be defined.

The objective of Nos Aruba 2025 is the institutionalization of an integrated and strategic planning process where the coordination between the relevant stakeholders is encouraged taking into consideration guidelines for sustainable development. The most important outcome of Nos Aruba 2025 is the formulation of a national integrated strategic plan (NISP). The definition of this plan will stimulate the coordination between the concerned stakeholders. The Nos Aruba 2025 process is a multidimensional process that will aim as much as possible that the relevant stakeholders reach a consensus together about the final interpretation of the sustainable development concept and the strategy that should be implemented to guide the development in the preferred path.

"Nos Aruba 2025" uses the Appreciative Inquiry method to manage change. The Appreciative Inquiry method offers the opportunity to inform, imagine and innovate instead of feeding into negative attitudes and criticism. The practice of Appreciative Inquiry is a participatory process that allows for positive input from all members of the community and from different organizations.

Let us imagine a better Aruba. Imagine the countless possibilities we could generate , imagine the passion and talents we could foster, but more importantly, imagine the future we could create for the next generation. Let us imagine Aruba based on its most positive aspects.