Economy
Welcome back to paradise
Monday 17 May 2021 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National
Five staff to one guest is likely the ratio that is going to welcome tourists who arrive into Rarotonga on the first travel bubble flight from Auckland this afternoon.
Cautious optimism as country starts ‘journey of recovery’
Saturday 15 May 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
The Cook Islands will embark on a long and uncertain path towards economic recovery on Monday when it welcomes its first visitors in over 14 months. Uncertainty and challenging days await the tourism sector, and the same goes for the government, which relies on their success to keep the country functioning.
Covid-19 support for businesses to end in June
Saturday 15 May 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Financial support for the private sector during the Covid-19 pandemic winds down at the end of next month, however government says further assistance could be made available in the event of another border closure.
More passengers, freight with Dreamliner
Wednesday 12 May 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Flights from New Zealand start with a trickle in May and turn daily in July according to Air New Zealand’s flight schedule.
Cooks ‘off limits’ to Aussies
Monday 10 May 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy
Australians transiting New Zealand to a third country, including the Cook Islands, are now required to apply for an exemption on compassionate grounds.
Pero’s Pasifika Air pivots to pawpaws
Friday 7 May 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Mike Pero’s Pasifika Air aims to reignite the country’s pawpaw industry by providing affordable freight to New Zealand.
Resorts complete $10m in renovation projects
Friday 7 May 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
Local company Pacific Resort Hotel Group announced the completion of a $10 million renovation project for two of their resort complexes.
Bubble brings sense of excitement for businesses
Wednesday 5 May 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
After more than a year of remaining open despite no tourists and operating with crushing overheads, restaurants, resorts and hotels in Rarotonga finally have a glimmer of hope to recover with the announcement of the two-way travel bubble between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.
Cafes cautiously prepare for visitors
Wednesday 5 May 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
Rarotonga and its many cafes scattered over the island have been catering to only their local market for over a year now. They are now preparing to serve Kiwi visitors who will be arriving here in little less than two weeks.
Bookings explode with bubble date
Tuesday 4 May 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Thousands of flight bookings have followed Sunday’s announcement of a Cooks-NZ travel bubble start date. Tourism industry stakeholders say they are ready to accommodate the incoming tide of sun-hungry kiwis.
Warm welcome awaits visitors, resort owner says
Tuesday 4 May 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
A leading resort group welcomes the re-opening of the New Zealand – Cook Islands borders for safe, two-way, quarantine free travel from May 16.
Air NZ announces Raro flights, Jetstar on hold
Monday 3 May 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
Local tourism industry is expecting a gradual growth in visitor numbers when two-way quarantine free travel between the Cook Islands and New Zealand commences on May 16.
Cultural workshop for tour guides hailed a success
Monday 3 May 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
Tauranga Vananga - the Ministry of Cultural Development, and the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation joined forces last week to run their first cultural tour guide workshop.
Tax law change impacts offshore sector
Friday 30 April 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
A law that is beginning to take effect aims to preserve the country’s reputation in the offshore financial services sector, however it remains to be seen if it will stall efforts to grow the industry.
Raro-Auckland-Perth trip breaches bubble
Friday 30 April 2021 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
A traveller from the Cook Islands has breached the trans-Tasman travel bubble by flying to Perth from Auckland on Thursday without spending two weeks in New Zealand as required.
Taro heads to a hungry NZ market
Tuesday 27 April 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Following a successful first run, Aitutaki growers are preparing a second shipment of taro for export to New Zealand.
PM ‘assures’ New Zealand bubble date is joint decision
Wednesday 21 April 2021 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
Prime Minister Mark Brown’s expedited plan to welcome Kiwi visitors into the country from May 1 looks unlikely.
Foreign interest for local properties
Tuesday 20 April 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy
The future of real estate in the Cook Islands is looking to be more promising than ever, with overseas investors showing a high interest especially in the light of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Lack of details on $20m in financial aid ‘unacceptable’
Saturday 17 April 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy
As the wait for a travel bubble continues, the Democratic Party has voiced its frustration with PM Mark Brown’s Government for withholding information on vital NZ financial assistance that’s targeted to plug a widening budget gap.
MOU seeks to define roles between government agencies
Thursday 15 April 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
The misunderstanding of the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB), instigated the process towards the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies.
