Aruba Just Implemented a New Fee for Travelers — What to Know

It just got more expensive to visit the island of Aruba thanks to a new sustainability fee travelers will have to pay upon arrival.

The new fee costs $20 and is collectable when travelers arrive by air, according to the Aruba Tourism Authority. The sustainability fee will then be used to upgrade existing sewage water treatment plants and infrastructure and build a larger one for the future.

“This fee will support a number of projects aimed at enhancing and improving sustainability efforts on the island,” the Aruba Tourism Authority wrote in a post on Facebook.

To pay the fee, travelers need to fill out the Embarkation & Disembarkation (ED) Card online. Travelers can use several major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, as well as Apple Pay. Cash payments on arrival will not be accepted and the fee must be paid before checking in for a flight in order to get clearance to travel.

Visitors will only be required to pay the fee once each calendar year and repeat travelers will be exempt on future trips. Children under 8 years old, travelers arriving by cruise, Aruba residents, and some Aruban students are also exempt.

The sustainability fee is in addition to the $3 environmental tax the island already charges.

Aruba isn’t alone in charging tourists to support infrastructure development. This year, Amsterdam increased its city tourist tax for travelers staying overnight or visiting on cruise ships, Paris raised taxes on hotels and other accommodations, and Iceland has floated plans to add a new tax for tourists to support the country’s climate and sustainability goals.

Other cities have charged travelers to discourage overtourism, including Venice, which implemented a fee for day trippers.

While it may cost a bit more to visit Aruba, the island’s near-perfect weather, amazing hotels, and gorgeous beaches with crystal-clear water make it all worth it.