Tourism Policy: Aruba’s tourism roadmap is moving toward finalization as Minister Wendrick Cicilia held a third round of stakeholder talks on the Aruba Strategic Tourism Master Plan 2026–2031, aiming to balance growth with capacity and long-term sustainability. Industry Pushback: AHATA says the 2026–2031 Tourism Implementation Plan still misses its key recommendations—shifting away from simply raising visitor numbers toward higher-value guests, managing cruise and flight arrivals, and improving revenue collection instead of raising tourism taxes. Connectivity & Infrastructure: EllaLink officially launched its Caribbean Gateway initiative, advancing a carrier-neutral fiber corridor with a western leg serving Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, targeting service by end-2029 after moving from letters of intent to committed investment. Energy Transition: WEB Aruba kicked off its 35 MW / 70 MWh BESS II battery storage project, designed to store renewable power and strengthen grid reliability, with completion expected in 2028. Cost of Living & Wages: New CBS figures show a widening gap between minimum wage and living costs, with a single person still short by about Afl. 690 per month (before supplements). Health & Waste Management: Aruba is dealing with a medical waste backlog of around 400,000 kg while it modernizes facilities and adds flexible processing capacity. Local Business & Events: A.T.A. detailed downtown Oranjestad preparations for the Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival (Oct 10–11) and renewed its service-quality partnership with the Aruba Excellence Foundation via the Aruba Certification Program.