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Record-breaking visitor arrivals and surging tourism revenue have sparked a strategic shift toward ‘destination stewardship’, prioritising infrastructure investment, environmental protection and high-value sustainable tourism over simple volume growth.

Cook Islands News

Tourism boom: Wealth, waste and the future of the islands ↗

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Cook Islands Government’s latest official “provisional” tax turnover data show tourism activity increased by $39 million (14 per cent) in the 2025 calendar year.

Cook Islands News

Tax data reveals $39m tourism growth, reaching $317m ↗

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Former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna says his appointment as interim director of the Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) places the Cook Islands in a stronger position within regional and international decision-making at a time when Pacific priorities are back in focus in Washington.

Cook Islands News

Former PM Puna says Cook Islands positioned to benefit from his new regional role ↗

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Despite record-breaking visitor arrivals in 2025, the Cook Islands saw a $34 million decline in calculated economic impact, a shift attributed to ‘leakage’ from increased offshore prepayments and evolving visitor spending habits.

Cook Islands News

$34 million tourism dip ↗

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Cook Islands leaders joined their Pacific counterparts in Hawaiʻi yesterday for the opening of The Pacific Agenda: Investment, Security and Shared Prosperity Summit, a two-day meeting bringing together regional leaders, the United States government and the private sector to discuss the future of the Pacific.

Cook Islands News

Leaders call for ‘people-centred’ investment at US-Pacific summit ↗

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Prime Minister Mark Brown says he is focused on progressing practical discussions that strengthens opportunity and long-term resilience for Cook Islanders at the United States Investment Summit for Leaders of the Pacific Island Economies in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Cook Islands News

PM Brown focuses on opportunity and resilience at US Investment Summit ↗

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Dengue cases are trending downward following the activation of Operation Namu26, and the health ministry remains open to exploring long-term natural control methods – such as dragonflies or Wolbachia bacteria – once the current outbreak is contained.

Cook Islands News

Dengue cases ‘declining’ ↗

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The Cook Islands Tourism Takurua 2026 cooking competition, themed “The Rukau Royal Rumble,” kicks off this morning at 8.30am sharp at the main stage of the Punanga Nui Market.

Cook Islands News

Seven cooks battle it out in the Rukau Royal Rumble ↗

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