New flights set to boost Cook Islands tourism
Air New Zealand, Air Pacific and the Cook Islands Government have joined together to help boost tourism to the destination.
After a successful trial service in 2010, Air New Zealand will start a weekly flight from Sydney to Rarotonga and has also decided to continue its weekly Los Angeles to Rarotonga flight over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Air Pacific is in the process of reaching an agreement with the Cook Islands Government for a three year contract, which will see the launch of a Fiji to Rarotonga weekly flight, offering direct north bound connections to the Hong Kong service.
This service will enable visitors to island hop between the Cook Islands and Fiji.
Carmel Beattie, CEO of the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, said: "This allows us to heavily promote our beautiful islands to key markets, including the UK, like never before.”
A code share with Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic has also been announced for routes between the UK and New Zealand, which will further help increase visitors to the Cook Islands.
The airlines expect the code share to come into force at the end of February 2011, after obtaining the relevant government approvals.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt