Cook Islands businesses are being called on to join a confidence survey in a combined effort to provide the “true” economic impacts of Covid-19 associated with tourism.

The survey is being sent to a database of tourism and business operators by Cook Islands Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce. 

Cook Islands Tourism chief executive Halatoa Fua said the purpose of the research is to provide a “deeper understanding of the downstream economic impacts of the tourism industry”.

“The detailed information provided by this research is valuable to all stakeholders in the Cook Islands and will enable a deeper understanding of the true indirect and direct economic impacts that are associated with tourism.”

Respondents, through a range of questions, would help form detailed information which would be valuable to all stakeholders in the Cook Islands, he added.

“This research will help to assist Government and private sector to better understand the key issues facing Cook Islands businesses, especially the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“The survey provides a platform for businesses to have their say and contribute to valuable research.”

Fua said it was the eighth round of the survey to be distributed since its launch in 2016.

Cook Islands Tourism director of destination development Christian Mani said: “We continue to urge all businesses to contribute to this growing timeline of business data as this will help the Government to better plan for businesses’ needs, particularly during these trying times.”

“As the timeline of data grows the survey can be relied upon to quickly gauge the needs of business owners.

“It can also be used as a yardstick for measuring business success in the Cook Islands in more ways than just revenue growth.”

That included business sustainability and indigenous participation, Mani added.

The research is being run by the Auckland University of Technology and Cook Islands Tourism Corporation with the support of Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce.

The survey is estimated to take 15 minutes to complete and all survey respondents are anonymous.

It can be found at www.cooksbusinesssurvey.com or for more information contact Sieni Tiraa at sieni.tiraa@cookislands.gov.ck.