Wednesday 1: Survey shows departure tax hike no good for visitors

Dear Editor,

Seven out of ten people say they will be less likely to visit the Cook Islands because of the hike in departure tax, according to a poll I have been conducting for the past month.

Your readers may remember I wrote to you at the end of February expressing my personal concern at the decision to more than double the tax at a time when the credit crunch is biting deep, particularly in the UK and Europe. I willingly admit the poll – on my own website about the islands (www.cookislands.org.uk) - was not scientific, but over 200 people felt strongly enough to express an opinion.

I present the result, therefore, only as an interesting snapshot.

Of particular concern to the government and tourism department though should be the fact that over that same month, 25 percent of site visitors were from Australia and New Zealand, and 26 percent from the US and Canada which are markets that I understand are being particularly targeted for tourism business.

You could reasonably argue that the tax is relatively small in relation to the overall cost of a visit, but I would strongly suggest that would show a naivety about the impact of the worldwide recession and the level of consciousness about anything which raises overall costs, especially of “luxury” items like a holiday.

I am disappointed at the result, but not at all surprised. And I would urge the government to think again very hard about whether this increase is a wise move, if only from a public relations perspective. I will certainly continue to do all I can through my website to promote the Cook Islands as the uniquely welcoming and wonderful destination I know it to be from four (soon to be five) visits.

Please, please government do your part not to deter, but to encourage others to discover the truth of that.

John Roberts

Cheshire, England