Tourist Centre Plans In Cooks

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 3

Tourist Centre Plans In Cooks

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) RARATONGA, May 7. The Cook Islands Government is against large - scale tourist commercialisation because it is “not in a hurry” to change the islanders’ way of life. Plans are being made to turn the most glamorous of its palm-fringed, coral-reefed islands, Aitutaki, into an overseas tourist centre and to provide a native village at Rarotonga itself for New Zealand’s winter sun seekers. The plans depend on the upgrading of Rarotonga’s airstrip to take a weekly Air New Zealand service and the

improvement of the runway at Aitutaki.

The ' Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mr Albert Henry, said in an interview that he had turned down all approaches by United States enterprises to finance the group’s tourist industry. “I have made it quite clear that if I was going to open up investment in the Cook Islands I would offer New Zealand first choice,” he said. “We are not in a hurry to change our way of life and we can build our country on New Zealand aid without going overseas for it.” Mr Henry said he was not against tourism, but emphasised that his Government would control it. Mr Henry said a New Zealand firm would finance the

construction of a hotel and facilities at Aitutaki. He declined to name the firm.

Mr Henry said the projected native village in Rarotonga would be designed with the New Zealand winter tourist in mind. It would be financed by a scheme at'present being studied by his Government. “When New Zealanders are going through their winter they can come to holiday here," he said. “The New Zealand Government would not need to issue overseas funds to the holidaymakers because we use the same currency.” Asked if the Cook Islands' present travel restrictions—which prevent New Zealanders from visiting the islands unless they obtain a special

permit—would be lifted, Mr Henry said: “There would be a relaxation of immigration policy.” Tourists from New Zealand would be allowed to visit the islands for up to three months once tourism was established. Mr Henry said that once the New Zealand Government agreed to finance the upgrading of Rarotonga’s airstrip, reconstruction would be completed in 18 months. Since the ending last year of the weekly air service operated by Polynesian Airlines, the Cook Islands have only had an infrequent R.N.Z.A.F. service. The New Zealand Government is expected to decide within the next six months to spend £600,000 on upgrading the existing airstrip.