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.
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.