The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is committed to integrating sustainable and regenerative tourism into the country’s visitor experiences. A pilot programme for regenerative travel experience is currently in place with the goal to ensure that while tourism operators are able to deliver exceptional visitor experiences, these services have a positive impact on the well-being of their people and environment.
The programme aims to benefit tourism operators and community projects throughout the country and consequently, visitors. The programme will provide funding opportunities to five selected businesses or groups to assist them in identifying, designing and delivering visitor experiences that have a positive impact on the people and place.
The following criteria were used as the baseline for businesses/groups:
- Must offer an on-the-ground experience
- Cook Islands Quality Assured or willing to become accredited
- Commitment to 6 months programme rollout
- Committed to regular communications with Cook Islands Tourism
- Invested in providing visitors fulfilling experiences that will leave our little paradise better than they found it
Through this pilot programme, the Cook Islands Tourism hopes to empower the tourism industry in improving the holistic wellbeing of the people and the island homes for now and for future generations. This will be achieved by fulfilling visitor experiences while providing these visitors with the ability to contribute to the protection and amplification of the islands. Cook Islands Tourism’s next step is concept development. We will work through each successful applicant’s operational plan and ensure its feasibility and sustainability once the experience goes live in July.
The programme is implemented by the Cook Islands Tourism, through the Destination Development & Destination Marketing teams, and is expected to conclude by August 2023. For more information about the programme, click here.
Please email sustainable@spto.org for any queries.
Photo Credit: Cook Islands Tourism Corporation
