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Welcome to the latest edition of Coconut Connection. Your Tourism Industry Updates directly from Cook Islands Tourism Corporation.
Feel free to share the newsletter with your colleagues, family, and members of the community. If you have not yet subscribed, please subscribe here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email: headoffice@cookislands.travel
FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE COOK ISLANDS AND FRENCH POLYNESIA TO INCREASE
Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti have jointly announced an agreement to increase flights between Tahiti and Rarotonga to three per week with the Tahitian carrier adding flights on Saturdays and Sundays using ATR aircraft from June 24th, 2023. The two Airlines will codeshare on services to optimise travel flexibility for local residents as well as provide multiple connections beyond Tahiti to the USA and Europe.
COOK ISLANDS ATTEND FIRST PARIS TRAVEL SHOW
The Cook Islands joined the 1st Paris 'Salon de Voyage Insolite' from March 10-12. The event showcased unique experiences and destinations, and drew travelers from Paris and beyond. It garnered excellent media coverage and participation from influential outlets, including Le Figaro. Cook Islands Tourism Corporation's Nick Costantini promoted the Cook Islands as a sustainable, authentic Polynesian destination to French travelers. At the event's showcase breakfast, updates on the destination and new routes were presented to key wholesalers in Paris....read more
NATIONAL RADIO COVERAGE ACROSS SOUTHERN EUROPE
The Cook Islands received great coverage across Southern European radio stations. Onda Cero interviewed Nick Costantini, our Southern Europe representative, and Susana Wigmore, the Spanish honorary consul in Rarotonga. In addition RTL 102.5, an Italian national radio station, interviewed Nick about sustainable and regenerative tourism in the Cook Islands, which later led to local Italian resident and Turama staff member Jacopo Dozzo, being interviewed. The Cook Islands were also featured on France Radio Sud's Paris Remarkable Destinations travel show, which reached over 4 million listeners.
THE COOK ISLANDS IS ON SALE FROM THE MAINLAND USA!
Cook Islands Tourism has partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to launch a campaign offering round-trip airfares from the mainland of USA to the Cook Islands for as low as US$899. The sale will last for three weeks and will end on April 9, 2023, with travel available until December 15, 2023. The promotion is valid for departure from California, Oregon, and Washington. Interested travellers are advised to book early with Hawaiian Airlines, as restrictions apply.
OUR KIA ORANA CUSTOMER SERVICE SOURCES ARE STILL A GO
CITTI in partnership with Cook Islands Tourism have been working hard in delivering the Kia Orana Customer Service courses. The aim of the course was to promote the Kia Orana Values, which are central to Cook Islands culture. 25 presentations were given between January 26 and March 14, 2023, attracting 375 participants from Tourism, government, and community sectors.
The course included topics on housekeeping, food & beverage, customer service, and handling complaints. Overall, participants reported that they gained a deeper understanding of the Kia Orana Values and how they can be applied in their daily work.
The next training session will be held on the 11th, 12th & 13th of April. Book now with presenter Taa Pera or call the Arorangi CICC Campus on +682 21471.
GET INVOLVED, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME
Cook Islands Tourism’s Industry Development division is encouraging businesses to get involved with the Business Partnership Programme.
The programme is aimed at empowering the industry through quality assurance, operator resilience building, and regenerative tourism practices. To take advantage of the benefits of the Business Partnership Programme, the first step is to obtain accreditation with Cook Islands Quality Assured (CIQA). This accreditation serves as an essential requirement to unlock the programme’s benefits and also demonstrates a business's commitment to providing high-quality visitor experiences....read more.
NORTHERN EUROPE ON THE GO TO SHOWCASE OUR PARADISE
After a 3-year break due to the pandemic, our Northern European office showcased the Cook Islands to around 60 European travel trade partners in Munich on March 3 and Zurich on March 10. Each event was attended by around 30 agents and was well-received, providing useful information about the Cook Islands and the South Pacific. We joined South Pacific colleagues on a pan-European Roadshow to encourage the travel trade to sell the Cook Islands as part of a South Pacific itinerary or stand-alone destination. Our Northern European representative, Lars Schubert, met with all operators individually. The Meet The Pacific 2023, coordinated by the Turama Pacific Travel Group and Rosie Holidays, started in London on March 1 and ended in Milan, resulting in European offices receiving enquiries from these markets.
MORE PR EXPOSURE FOR OUR LITTLE PARADISE
We are pleased to present a series of articles produced by media influencers who have recently visited our little paradise. Thanks to our familiarisation programmes, these influencers have experienced what's on offer, from cultural immersion to thrilling adventure activities. We would like to express our thanks to the industry for your support with making these programmes a success.
CLUB RARO GETS A NEW FACE LIFT!
Club Raro has reopened after a two-month renovation, creating a new experience for guests. The public areas, restaurant, lobby, bar, pathways, pool, and pool surrounds have all been updated. Starting from May 1st, Club Raro will become an adults-only resort for guests aged 18 years and over. Club Raro offers affordable three-star accommodations and is popular with young guests, soft adventurers, and singles and couples of all ages.
A GUIDE TO HERO IMAGES
First impressions count! Did you know that it only takes 0.05 seconds for someone to form an opinion about your website based on its visual appeal? That's why having a great hero image, which is an oversized banner image at the top of your site, is so important.
Recent web design trends include using videos and animations for hero images instead of static photos. A high-quality hero image can make a great first impression and guide visitors to take action, increasing conversion rates. However, be careful not to use large images that could slow down your website's loading time.
Additionally, choose images that complement your product offering. The use of unoriginal stock images can detract from the overall quality of your content. In fact, users who saw a good-quality hero image consumed 26% more pages and stayed on the site 43% longer compared to those who saw a bad-quality hero image.
So, whether you're a tour operator, retailer, accomodation provider, etc, make sure to choose an inspiring hero image that encapsulates your unique selling points and complements your product images and core offering.
APRIL
Korero Maori Speech Competition
3 - 6 April 2023
Rarotonga School Festival
12 - 13 April 2023
Dancer of the Year
27 April - 12 May 2023
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