Cook Islands chance to learn

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 10

Cook Islands chance to learn

The Cook Islands must learn from Christchurch’s mistake and have enough hotel accommodation built by the time their new international airport is completed in about two years, said the chief executive officer of the South Island Promotion Association (Mr M. F. Foate) yesterday.

Mr Foate returned last week after a short visit to Rarotonga as a guest of the

Cook Islands Government.

Mr Foate, and an executive member of the New Zealand Travel Association, Mr S. Walker, had discussions with the islands' Minister of Tourism (Mr T. A. Henry). They advised him of some of the problems the islands might encounter once its tourist industry began after the opening of the airport. “If a DCB landed there today with 150 tourists, there would not be sufficient accommodation available,” Mr Foate said. “However, it is obvious that by the time it is needed enough hotel accommodation will be available at a reasonable standard.” Mr Foate said that although the number of vehicles on the island was

sufficient to cater for the sharp increase in demand expected from tourism, many were in poor condition. Tipping was the established procedure in many parts of the world; Mr Foate felt that if the Cook Islands could be recognised as one place where tipping was not encouraged this would prove a major attraction. He said he saw the territory’s future in tourism as an ideal two or three-day stop as part of a South Pacific tour Of several islands, including New Zealand. It was possible that airstrips on several of the outer islands would be developed; as in Honolulu, tourists could then be taken to those islands for day trips or overnight visits.