America, here comes Cooks

Response from American travel trade and media to the Cook Islands Roadshow starting Monday surpassed expectations, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation chief executive Chris Wong said.
The Roadshow is part of efforts to stimulate interest in travel to the country on the non-stop Los Angeles-Rarotonga services by Air New Zealand starting April.
The corporation, local industry operators and Air New Zealand will showcase the Cook Islands in seven American west coast cities over the next week.
The corporation is pleased close to 500 wholesalers, travel agents and travel media have already confirmed their attendance. More are anticipated over the next few days, Wong said.
The Roadshow starts in Seattle Monday, 5 February, and ends at Long Beach, California, as part of the Los Angeles Times Travel Show.
Marketing officer Kelly Hansen and the corporation’s North American representatives will lead the Roadshow. It also includes a small group of talented young Cook Islanders. They have been practising hard to promote Cook Islands culture during the presentations.
Wong said this makes for an encouraging start to efforts to draw more North Americans and Europeans to the Cook Islands.
The corporation plans a major marketing effort in Europe later this month to also stimulate travel on the Los Angeles-Rarotonga services, he said.

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