Further cementing its close working relationship with the travel trade, the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation hosted a group of travel agents on a fam to say ?Kia orana? (hello) to the South Pacific destination and its many island experiences.
The group embarked on a lagoon cruise, headed out on an eco-bike tour, chatted to locals on market visits and were treated to cultural evenings complete with celebratory dances.
The fam was run at a time when the destination is also seeing an upswing in international visitors, particularly from the UK. The latest visitor statistics show that the number of visitors travelling from the UK has grown 23% in the financial year to date July 2017 to April 2018.
Ian Griffiths, UK and Ireland manager for the tourism corporation, said: ?In the past 18 months the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation has been extensively engaging with travel agents, via training days, events and fam trips. Our activities have been proven to work by the increase in visitor figures from the UK and Ireland. We are incredibly grateful for all the support we have received from the trade and look forward to continued relationships in the years ahead.?
The fam was also run in partnership with Air New Zealand and Jorges Flores-Garcia, the airline?s UK sales manager, further expressed his delight to be working with the trade and Cook Island?s Tourism again. He said: ?The fam trip is yet another example of activity to continue our relationship with the trade, enable hands on experience with the airline?s product and emphasise why Air New Zealand is a better way to fly. Working with Cook Islands Tourism further cements the partnership and allows Air New Zealand to demonstrate one of many destinations out of the UK.?
