The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that Cook Islands Tourism encourage and pioneer a debt or equity fund designed to provide seed investment for Pa Enua tourism projects.

According to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Annual Review 2022-2023 and Other Reviews Report, the seed investment would have to be used for realistic potential project for the future like holiday homes and small business including food supply in agriculture and fishery.

Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Karla Eggelton and director of finance and administration Marcelle Rossouw met with the Committee to discuss Cook Islands Tourism’s performance report.

The PAC acknowledged that tourism continued to expand their work to actively tailor and support the Pa Enua’s needs. The report showed that with the launch of the new Cook Islands Tourism development strategy it is focused on a sustainable and resilient future showing that there is an opportunity to expand tourism and amplify community–led tourism to the Pa Enua.

The report said that while each island is on its own journey, Tongareva/Penrhyn has shown interest in developing a sustainable tourism product for the island to cater up to 50 passengers (domestic and international) per week.

The PAC noted that a sealed runway or airport would be the catalyst to elevating and advancing the conversation, suggesting a possible pilot programme to design a playbook for other islands that could assist in establishing or maintaining a viable tourism sector.

This would create economic strategy, enabling the private sector in the Pa Enua and reducing reliance on the Cook Islands government, the PAC said.

Meanwhile, the PAC advised the Cook Islands Tourism to continue in its efforts to educate and raise awareness among visitors about the importance of respecting cultural and traditional values of the Cook Islands and its people specifically on respectable dress wear in town and while attending church services.