Tourism
Stuck in the doldrums? Vaka Marumaru Atua crew waits for fair winds
Wednesday 8 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Local, National, Tourism, Weekend
Eager to set sail for the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (Festpac 2024) in Hawai’i from June 6–16, the Vaka Marumaru Atua crew awaits favourable northwesterly winds for their departure from Rarotonga.
Aspiring leaders tackle tourism challenges
Tuesday 7 May 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Local, National, Tourism
Cook Islands Tourism welcomed the second cohort of the Future Leaders Academy students, showcasing a unique collaboration that blends leadership development with innovative tourism solutions.
New Zealand family devastated by teenager’s sudden death
Tuesday 7 May 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in BREAKING NEWS, Health, Local, National, New Zealand, Regional, Tourism
A teenager from New Zealand tragically died in his sleep during a family vacation in Rarotonga, leaving his family heartbroken and seeking support for repatriation costs.
Setting sail for the future
Saturday 4 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Local, National, Tourism, Weekend
Vaka Marumaru Atua voyage to the Festival of Pacific Arts in Hawaii aims to revive traditional navigation techniques and celebrate cultural heritage, with a young crew mentored by experienced navigators.
Airline celebrates 30 years of supporting Rarotonga Triathlon
Thursday 2 May 2024 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National, Sports, Tourism, Triathlon
Air New Zealand’s longstanding sponsorship for the Rarotonga International Triathlon “is testament to the airline’s commitment to the tourism industry”.
Health and visas top dissatisfaction list in Cook Islands public services
Monday 29 April 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, Health, Local, National, Tourism
A Cook Islands public service satisfaction survey found that nearly half of respondents were dissatisfied, with the health clinic, visa applications and non-emergency police services being the least satisfying experiences.
Strong first quarter fuels optimism for Cook Islands tourism industry
Saturday 20 April 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
International economists and leading resorts say the Cook Islands is on track for a record year in arrivals, buoyed by strong first-quarter figures.
Vaka Marumaru Atua sets direct course for Hawaii
Thursday 18 April 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National, Tourism
Vaka Marumaru Atua will skip Tahiti and sail directly to Hawaii with a youth crew to attend the 2024 Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture in Honolulu in June.
National Geographic Orion docks in Rarotonga
Thursday 18 April 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Tourism
State of the art expedition cruise ship, the National Geographic Orion, arrived in Rarotonga yesterday.
Scammers use fake Cook Islands resort to lure overseas job seekers
Wednesday 17 April 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Crime, Local, National, Technology, Tourism
International scammers have created a fake Cook Islands resort to lure people looking for jobs in the tourism industry. They deceive victims into paying an upfront fee of at least $280.
Cruise visitors down by 72 per cent due to weather
Monday 8 April 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Tourism, Weather
Despite double the cruise ship arrivals this year, Cook Islands tourism industry suffers a 72 per cent drop in passengers due to bad weather impacting port calls.
Air NZ flight to Rarotonga turned back midway due to ‘technical fault’
Wednesday 3 April 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Tourism
Passengers flying in and out of Rarotonga faced delays up to six hours after an Air New Zealand flight took a U-turn on Monday morning (Cook Islands time).
Cook Islands hosts week-long tourism data training
Friday 15 March 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Tourism
A week-long training on data initiatives in tourism was held at the Muri Beach Club Hotel, co-organised by Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and Cook Islands Tourism.
Tourist influx expected as Jetstar adds flight
Thursday 14 March 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Jetstar is adding a fourth weekly flight between Sydney and Rarotonga due to strong demand from Australian tourists, bringing the total to four flights per week, starting later this month.
National Geographic Orion brings tourists to Rarotonga for excursions
Thursday 7 March 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Tourism
About 60 passengers disembarked from the visiting cruise vessel in Rarotonga on Tuesday.
Cook Islands balances tourism growth with sustainability
Saturday 2 March 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Business, Economy, National, Tourism
Cook Islands emerged from the Covid-19 slump with a tourism boom in 2023.
Beyond the numbers: How tourism benefits everyday life in the Cook Islands
Saturday 2 March 2024 | Written by Candice Luke | Published in Business, Economy, Features, Go Local, National, Tourism, Weekend
January saw a record breaking 10,368 visitors arrive on our shores. They’re staying longer, and spending more on average. But what do these facts and figures look like in the daily lives of Cook Islanders? Cook Islands News journalist Candice Luke spoke to locals about how the tourist dollar is affecting them, their families, and their businesses right now.
January arrivals best on record
Thursday 29 February 2024 | Written by Candice Luke | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
A record total of 10,368 international visitors were welcomed to the Cook Islands last month according to newly released statistics for January 2024.
Visitors enjoy snorkelling, sightseeing and exceptional service
Thursday 29 February 2024 | Written by Candice Luke | Published in National, Tourism
The cruise ship Paul Gauguin was in Rarotonga yesterday with 253 visitors on board, enjoying a south Pacific paradise tour.
Rarotonga welcomes cruise passengers for sightseeing and shopping
Tuesday 27 February 2024 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Majority of the passengers onboard Crystal Serenity came ashore during the cruise ship’s visit to Rarotonga on Saturday.
