NEWS FROM THE TOURISM SECTOR

• New Bonaire Windsurfing Website to Launch Soon!
• Back to School Sale at Island Fashions and Gifts
• Sunday Evening Bonairean Buffets at Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino
• Calendar of Events

Captain Don Presents Microscope to Caren Eckrich Captain Don, representing the Board of the Accolade Foundation of Bonaire, presented a stereo microscope to Caren Eckrich of Bonaire's Sea & Discover Marine Education Center. The microscope is a donation from George Buckley of Cambridge's Harvard University Marine Ecology Project. This gesture of recognition for Caren's work educating children in Bonaire about wonders of the undersea world extends to encouragement for Caren's plans for a coral reef interactive museum. The Accolade Foundation of Bonaire works with educational and public service NGO's to promote worldwide ocean conservation. Back to the top   Tourism Statistics Head of TCB, Ms. Ronella Croes, is making progress in providing accurate and timely tourism statistics. She reported that the delay in providing the numbers was due to a seven-month backlog to be processed when she took over the position last January when the TCB had been functioning without a formal chief for several years. Under the new system, arrivals statistics are available at the end of each month. The last phase, an accuracy test, is being finalized now. TCB hopes to be able to release statistics for tourist arrivals soon, when it can guarantee that the statistical information is accurate. Plans are to proceed with the provision of periodic reports as soon as these fundamentals--no backlog, timely and accurate statistics--are in place.   Back to the top U.S. Withdraws December Deadline for Implementing New Re-Entry Rules As reported by CNN, the United States has withdrawn a December deadline for implementing new travel rules for Americans visiting the Caribbean. The new rules would require Americans to show passports when returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean where only birth certificates or driver's licenses had been required in the past. The U.S. government is reconsidering the December 31 deadline for the rules to take effect in the Caribbean, U.S. State Department spokesman Steve Pike said. The new rules are meant to prevent terrorists and other criminals from entering the United States through the Caribbean. But island leaders complained the measure would discourage American visitors, who made up 53 percent of the region's 22 million visitors last year, excluding cruise ship passengers. Caribbean officials also complained Mexico and Canada would have gained an edge because Americans returning from those countries wouldn't have to show passports until December 31, 2006. That deadline has also been withdrawn, CNN reports. Although the U.S. government still plans to implement the rules for all countries by January 2008, no new dates have been set for specific nations or regions. Back to the top Rotary Club Presents New Car to Rignald Saragoza Rotary Club of Bonaire President Edsel Winklaar and Secretary Edwin Vrieswijk delivered a car to Rignald Saragoza. With the assistance of SASO to organize the license plates and insurance, Rotary Club bought a specially equipped car for Mr. Saragoza, who is 48 years old,  which will allow him to drive to work, visit family, go shopping etc. Mr. Saragoza's car broke and was un-repairable and after a request made to Rotary Club Bonaire, his wish was fulfilled. Drive safely! Back to the top USONA Approves Funding for Tourism Awareness Program USONA, which funds projects that fit within the economic development plan of Bonaire (as established by the government), has approved funding for production of a Tourism Awareness Program.  The contract was signed in early August.   The actual program should be ready within one month and hence will start as soon as approved. The actual program will have a duration of 3 years and will represent a total investment of 1.5 million in our product "Bonaire."  Back to the top Second Diva Women's Windsurf Clinic Concludes Windsurfing is the rage on Bonaire with locals and tourists wanting to learn to sail. On August 28th, the second Diva Women's Windsurf Clinic was held. Eight local women took to the water under the watchful eyes of former Olympian, Constantine "Patun" Saragoza. Patun is one of four instructors at Bonaire Windsurf Place, one of two high-caliber windsurf shops in Bonaire,  Bonaire Windsurf Place offers top of the line rental gear and first rate instruction. Coordinator Ann Phelan of Caribbean Wind & Sun Vacations has been sailing since 1997, and she moved to this windy island to get out of the rat race and to sail as much as possible. Ann's dream is to get as many locals and women on the water, as Bonaire has one of the world's best settings to learn--gin clear water, shallow depths, and two super shops make Bonaire the windsurf paradise it is.  All eight of the women were out on the water sailing and feeling the breeze. At days end, they agreed it was a wonderful experience. Most have plans to continue sailing. The next Diva Women's Clinic will be held the end of November, 2005. Contact  Ann Phelan at ann@bonairewindsurfing.com or call 011-599-786-3134. Anyone wishing to learn the sport can contact Ann or either of the two shops for lessons. Bonaire Windsurf Place 717-2288 or Jibe City 717-5233. Back to the top   TCB, Together with the Private Sector has Made Preparations for New Flights from Continental Airlines   After signing the contract  last July securing the first non-stop connection ever to and from the US mainland with a US carrier, TCB, together with the private sector, are  preparing  to promote these new flights.   TCB has put a marketing plan together in a record time. This plan entails promotion in magazines, radio, Web sites, etc. Together with the private sector, a Road Show in the area of Houston has been planned for mid-September also. The Road Show will cover presentations/visits to more than 25 dive shops in this area and to reservations departments at various Continental Airlines headquarters in the U.S. The show will familiarize Continental reservations agents with Bonaire, and will put us again in the spotlight among dive retailers. Research conducted illustrates that dive retailers are familiar with Bonaire, but they want tools to sell the destination. The delegation will focus on this matter in particular, together with, of course, the new service from Continental Airlines.    Continental will operate scheduled round-trip air service departing Houston on Fridays at 11:15 p.m. and arriving Bonaire on Saturdays at 5:00 a.m.  The return flight to Houston will depart Bonaire at 7:30 a.m., arriving Houston at 11:20 a.m.  Continental Airlines will use a Boeing 737 airplane with 124 seats including 12 first class seats.    Partners such as Continental Airlines, American Airlines and Air Jamaica are imperative for the flow of tourists out of the US. We are pleased to have a partnership with them. As done in the past for Air Jamiaca and American Eagle, TCB is giving special attention to Continental Airlines with  its new service to Bonaire.   Back to the top SGB Chez Nous Students Selected for Italian Internship Program Five Students from Bonaire's SGB Chez Nous have been selected to participate in the 2005 October Italy Internship Program in Emilia Romagna. Vernon Martijn, their teacher, will accompany the students. 1. Channethon Jansen 2. Minosca Mercera 3. Angel Albertus 4. Shakira Mattew 5. Gianna Martines Reserve is Mariana Cicilia. Back to the top New Bonaire Ambassadors AWARDED GOLD:  John Ashford I was asked to reflect on the meaning Bonaire has had on my life. It has been a powerful experience that began in the early seventies when I first came to Bonaire as a diver from Venezuela. I must say that still today I feel the same feeling of joy that surges in me when I step out of the airplane on to Bonaire as I did first time I arrived. It’s the wind, the smell of the sea and divi blossom and the happy songs of the chibi chibi and more. The “more” is what has kept me returning to Bonaire for 30 years, and the part that is more is the friendships and bonds to Bonaire that still are strong today. There have been many of those enduring encounters with Bonaireans that have shared a common vision. During my first days, I met captain Don, and I must admit that my love for him and his Aquaveture philosophy of dive freedom and for the mission of turning Bonaire into the Dive Capital of the world was what first hooked me. I have been at Capt. Don’s since the days of Hotel Bonaire that later became Aqua Habitat at the Sunset Beach Bungalows. And it was during the time of the creation of Habitat, and the National Underwater Marine Park and the naming of the dive sites, that the major characters emerged and joined the crew. Niki Tromp, then director of the Bonaire Tourist office and Cai-Cai Cecilia, sang his yellow bird tunes late into the night at Habitat while Frans Booi, Cultural Director, always supported new endeavors to promote the island, and Capt Don who was behind the bar, spinning yarns and bragging about the “Valerie Queen.” Then Ismael challenged him to a race with “Sislin” & “Veva” one night, and the Bonaire Regatta was born. Well thanks to Janet, the wild Captain Don was tamed, I must add. Many friends were important players in the scene at the time: Ebo and Ismael were Don’s first old-timer dive guides, diving off flattop pontoons. Ady Everts and Eddy Statie coined the phrase “Gorilla Divers” and added to the magic spell that Bonaire casts upon everyone. The early days were fun. I have watched Bonaire grow! Sand Dollar came on board & The Hamlet & Plaza Resort that changed the face of the island. But the old timers like Johan and his mother Sylvia, kept it true, with Zee Zicht and The Great Escape. And now with the development of Santa Barbara and Sabadeco, we add the last taste of the more refined. But, still nothing will change the very essence, the spirit of an island that is unique and strong, that is Dushi and basta bon. With warm regards, John Ashford. PS. I arrive on Bonaire to wish Capt. Don a happy 80th birthday Back to the top AWARDED SILVER:  Margaret and Richard Wilson Back to the top AWARDED BRONZE:  Lindsay Locraft and Kamila Kercheville Kamila tells us, "Each time I dive into the waters of Bonaire, I experience something new and rewarding. Every year I set a goal to see and experience the marine life that Bonaire's waters have to offer. The tranquility that I have when I swim among the underwater sea life is hard to explain, but that's why I come back every year to enjoy the stress-free life of Bonaire. Thanks for your hospitality of your wonderful island." Back to the top AWARDED BRONZE:  Kenneth & Virginia Axley         To see more of Bonaire's Bronze, Silver, or Gold Ambassadors, visit http://www.bonaireambassador.com! Back to the top