Cook Islands Tourism Corporation recently hosted our quarterly Global Business Updates (GBU), with good attendance recorded at both the Rarotonga and Aitutaki events.

With presentations from CEO (Karla Eggelton), Director of Destination Development (Brad Kirner), and GM Australasia (Graeme West), discussion topics covered both rear-facing 2023 performance results and future strategic thinking across the destination marketing and development divisions of the corporation. A consistent theme emerged, with a clear ‘delivery gap’ growing between current resourcing and the investment required to ensure the long-term, sustainable growth of the tourism industry.

Speaking after the event, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation CEO, Karla Eggelton emphasised the need for further investment in what is still by far the Cook Islands’ main economic driver; “The growing costs of doing business, combined with the need to capitalise on our aviation investment and ensure a sustainable approach via destination management, means we are currently under resourced to the tune of around $3.5 million. We are bringing this to the public domain as we believe strongly that tourism, if grown responsibly and sustainably, is still the Cook Islands’ only real option for future economic prosperity. We need to look after our golden goose, and that requires both industry and general public support as we head towards central budgeting decisions for FY2025”.

For media inquiries and further information, please contact:

Karla Eggelton, CEO - Cook Islands Tourism Corporation [email protected]

ENDS