Cook Islands is hosting the annual Pacific Tourism Organisation Board and Council of Minister’s meetings today at The Edgewater Resort. The country is also hosting the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit on Wednesday.

The summit is the culmination of sustainable tourism efforts to develop and showcase the Pacific as a global leader in sustainable tourism.

Pacific Tourism Organisation chairman Petero Manufolau said that the organisation would continue to safeguard the unique and natural assets of the Pacific while promoting a clean and green tourism industry.

“(The Leadership Summit) will be the driving force to transform SPTO (Pacific Tourism Organisation) into a global leader in sustainable tourism to uplift the consolidated quality assurance of the region and promote a clean and sustainable tourism sector,” Manufolau said in a statement.

“The Council of Ministers of Tourism has a strong representation in the respective governments and the elevation of economic prosperity and social welfare.”

Pacific Tourism Organisation chief executive, Chris Cocker said Pacific Island member countries had different levels of sustainable tourism development.  

“(The Leadership Summit) will give our SPTO members a voice on the regional and global scale to communicate this vision, a lobbying platform for donor support, and give the Pacific communities a stronger platform to combat climate change,” Cocker said.