Tourism
Tourist visa to be extended
Friday 31 March 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Visitors to the Cook Islands will be able to extend their stay for up to a year under a new regulation being finalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI). The move has been welcomed by the country’s tourism industry.
Managing tourism ‘better’
Wednesday 29 March 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
A consortium will travel to Hawaii to learn about implementing the concept of regenerative tourism.
Coming back for more . . .
Tuesday 21 March 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National, Tourism
A woman who is celebrating her 29th visit to the Cook Islands doesn’t want to see our nation change.
Breathing new life into an old facility
Saturday 18 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Business, Local, National, Tourism
Club Raro on Rarotonga has received a facelift in recent weeks as part of a combined effort to breathe new life into a facility constructed in the 1970s. Couple Tish and Owen Mete have been behind the two-month project.
Fighting for every visitor as new flights on the horizon
Monday 13 March 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National, Tourism
About 134,000 people are forecast to holiday in the Cook Islands this year, a 22 per cent drop on the 171,000 visitors in 2019.
Resistance to mega-tourism is rising in the South Pacific
Saturday 11 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Local, National, Tourism
With Covid-19 travel restrictions largely a thing of the past for Australian and New Zealand tourists, Pacific destinations are enjoying the return of visitors – albeit at a slower pace than in other parts of the world, writes Apisalome Movono and Regina Scheyvens.
Cook Islands tourism has lost its position in Canadian market: Mani
Thursday 9 March 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National, Tourism
The Cook Islands had “definitely lost our position” in the Canadian market over the past two years, revealed Christian Mani, Cook Islands Tourism general manager for North America.
‘Still undiscovered’: Rebuilding North American tourist market underway
Wednesday 8 March 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Less than half of the travellers booked to fly from Hawaii to the Cook Islands when the route opens up in May are from mainland United States, despite the flights creating a gateway between the island nation and 15 North American cities.
‘More seats for bums on planes please’
Wednesday 8 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Local, National, Tourism
More seats for bums on planes to the Cook Islands. That’s the message from Aitutaki tourism operators following another Global Breakfast Update on the island.
Chinese billionaire Jack Ma visits Rarotonga
Tuesday 7 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Tourism
The arrival of two planes at Rarotonga International Airport has aircraft spotters asking questions.
Cruise ship passengers enjoy Raro hospitality
Friday 3 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National, Outer Islands, Tourism
Cruise ship MSC Magnifica anchored in Rarotonga bringing more than 2000 passengers with her.
The big problem at Air NZ
Thursday 2 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Opinion, Tourism
Kiwis trying to book a trip to Rarotonga will be frustrated with reduced flights to Rarotonga. On many days the airline is now only flying one daytime flight from Auckland to the Cook Islands, which was an astonishing $1800 return when I tried to book for June this year, writes Brook Sabin of Stuff.
Outbound Air NZ flight returns to Raro in wake of Cyclone Gabrielle
Wednesday 15 February 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Tourism, Weather
An Auckland bound Air New Zealand flight which left Rarotonga on Monday afternoon was forced to turn around close to midway through its journey due to weather playing havoc in Auckland.
Jetstar adds extra flight
Tuesday 14 February 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Business, National, Tourism
Excellent demand even before the inaugural flight takes off, has seen Jetstar increase their year-round non-stop service from Sydney to Rarotonga to three times a week during peak travel periods.
TC Gabrielle affects Auckland-Raro flight
Monday 13 February 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Business, National, Tourism
Cook Islands tourism operators are hoping flights out of Auckland which is facing the wrath of Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle, resumes today following cancellations yesterday.
Promoting Cook Islands
Monday 13 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Business, National, Tourism
Cook Islands Tourism was invited to present at Hawaiian Airlines' (HA) annual global sales conference held in Honolulu late last month.
Air New Zealand legal cost details still up in the air
Monday 6 February 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Tourism
New information is likely to emerge this week as the total cost to Cook Islands taxpayers in a multi-million-dollar tax case involving Air New Zealand is still to be revealed.
Tourists stranded as Backlog of flights continues
Tuesday 31 January 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
A backlog of flights is likely to remain for at least another week in Rarotonga, as the Auckland floods disrupt travel plans for thousands of visitors, with some people having to rebook for the end of the week.
Auckland flooding leaves travelling Cook Islanders stranded
Saturday 28 January 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Tourism
It was a surreal night for New Zealand-based Cook Islander Thomas Wynne as he came to the rescue of six Cook Islanders who were trapped in Wellington.
From Houston to Rarotonga: Tourists stranded in Cook Islands
Friday 27 January 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Tourists from as far as Houston are stranded in Rarotonga due to the massive flooding in Auckland.