Travel
Returning Pa Enua residents exempted from travel ban
Thursday 14 April 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Travel
Travel exemptions for passengers to the Pa Enua from Rarotonga have been issued to people who are residents and need to return to their respective islands.
Update on NZ and Australia markets
Wednesday 13 April 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Travel
Cook Islands Tourism Corporation will hold its first Global Breakfast Update tomorrow at the Muri Beach Club Hotel. Graeme West, general manager of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation for Australasia, will be holding three presentations detailing current activity in the New Zealand and Australia markets, including information on what is planned moving forward to drive […]
Travel market to Cook Islands heats up
Tuesday 5 April 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in National, Travel
The Cook Islands tourism industry is set to receive a major boost from Jetstar’s announcement that it is resuming its Auckland to Rarotonga direct flights from June 1, 2022 (Cook Islands time).
Air NZ adds more flights
Monday 4 April 2022 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in National, Travel
Air New Zealand has confirmed additional flights from next week in anticipation of tourism boom in the coming months.
Plans to return subsidised Los Angeles, Sydney flights
Tuesday 29 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Subsidised Los Angeles and Sydney flights under the airline underwrite programme are likely to return later in the year.
Pa Enua travel set to resume
Tuesday 29 March 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Travel
The Cook Islands Government has set a nominal date for travel to return to Pa Enua of April 18 for the Southern Group islands and April 25 for the Northern Group.
New departure card asks why people are leaving Cooks
Wednesday 23 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Departure cards for international flights will “quantify” how many Cook Islanders are leaving the country and for how long.
Direct flights to Australia ‘not to start immediately’
Tuesday 22 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Prime Minister Mark Brown says direct flights would not start straight away when the Cook Islands border reopens to Australia on April 11.
Pa Enua borders to reopen
Tuesday 22 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
The Pa Enua borders remain closed until the end of the month to contain the spread of Covid-19 to just Rarotonga and Aitutaki, however, a local resort owner is disappointed with the call.
Departure cards re-introduced
Monday 21 March 2022 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in National, Travel
Government is hoping the reintroduction of departure cards will help in responding to depopulation and labour force loss exacerbated by Covid impact.
Government drops costly pre-departure test
Friday 18 March 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Travel
Visitors travelling to the Cook Islands will no longer need to undertake the expensive Covid-19 PCR pre-departure tests costing $250 each.
Cooks to reopen to Australia
Wednesday 16 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Cook Islands will reopen to Australia on April 12 and will open to the rest of the world on May 1 which is in line with New Zealand.
Change in pre-departure Covid testing for visitors
Friday 11 March 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Cook Islands will change its pre-departure Covid-19 testing requirement to include rapid antigen tests (RAT) as an option instead of PCR tests which cost around $250.
Raro visitors ready to roll Covid-19 dice
Saturday 26 February 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Some tourists planning a trip to the Cook Islands are unaware of the risks associated with Covid-19 - which includes bearing isolation costs if they test positive while on holiday here – while others are prepared to roll the dice.
‘It’s been a struggle’: Cook Islands residents countdown to Aussie reunions
Wednesday 23 February 2022 | Written by Sian Solomon | Published in National, Travel
Australia reopened its border to all fully vaccinated visa holders on February 20, welcoming the return of international travellers and other visitors for the first time in nearly two years.
Australian border reopens
Tuesday 22 February 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Travel
Cook Islanders intending to travel to Australia can do so after the country reopened its borders to fully vaccinated visa holders on Sunday, welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers, and other visitors.
Unvaccinated can still fly, just not with Air NZ: TMO
Tuesday 8 February 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in National, Travel
Unvaccinated over 18 who need to go to New Zealand for medical reasons can still get there but not with Air New Zealand, says Secretary of Health Bob Williams.
Travellers advised to be vigilant
Saturday 29 January 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Travel
Travellers heading to the Cook Islands, including returning residents, are being reminded to check the details on their Covid-19 test certificates to ensure they fall within the required 48-hour pre-departure window.
Nurses take charge of Airport Rapid Antigen Tests
Thursday 27 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Travel
The Arataki Cook Islands team are the Covid-19 health and safety officers responsible for the Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) that are required by travellers departing Rarotonga for the Pa Enua (by sea or air travel).
Travel bubble ‘risky’
Wednesday 26 January 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Travel
A leading Pacific health expert has called Cook Islands Government’s decision to keep its borders open to visitors ‘risky’ but welcomed additional measures as the country ramps up preparation to face Omicron.
