CIT Participates in Crucial Disaster Preparedness Exercise
Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT) recently participated in a vital three-day tabletop simulation, “A Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Cook Islands,” led by Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) with support from New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and The Pacific Community (SPC). The exercise, simulating a Category 3 cyclone, tested the nation’s emergency response procedures, highlighting key areas for improvement in both community and visitor management, and disaster communication.
CIT's CEO Karla Eggelton emphasised the importance of robust disaster planning that ensures the safety of both residents and international visitors. Following the exercise, CIT is already acting on key learnings, collaborating with our New Zealand and Australian consulates and engaging a crisis management consultant to guide the development of renewed disaster response planning specific to visitors.
Accommodation providers are encouraged to participate in an upcoming survey designed to audit crisis management planning and identify opportunities to help build capability in this area.
Carlene Mapu, Visitor Experience Manager
