Cook Islands Tourism : Cook Islands  

Cook Islands Tourism - Travel guide

Cook Islands

Tourism

The leading economic sector is tourism, which has grown massively since 1971 when only a few hundred tourists ventured to the Cook Islands. In the year 2000 a record 75,000 people visited the country, bringing huge economic benefits and major developments in tourist infrastructure on both Rarotonga and the northern island of Aitutaki.

Though tourism was affected by the slowdown in international travel following the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 and the subsequent collapse of charter airline Canada 3000, by the end of 2002 it was well on the way to full recovery.

Though tourism is concentrated on Rarotonga, the island of Aitutaki has developed into an important secondary centre, with Air Rarotonga flights operating seven days a week including a late Sunday night service to Aitutaki. Tourism and services industries have generated an average 80 percent of gross domestic product in recent years.

Major tourist markets are New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the United States and Canada.