Catriona’s honeymoon getaway in Aitutaki

The best complement any country can get is if the beautiful host of a long-time favourite travel show like Australia’s ‘Getaway’ announces that its her very favourite place in the world.
After 10 years of globetrotting Catriona Rowntree is still very much in love with Aitutaki … so much so that she introduced her new husband to the destination by taking him there on their honeymoon.
Catriona and the love of her life, James Pettit, honeymooned at Aitutaki’s new luxury private pool villa, Villa Te Arau ~ Royal Honeymoon Pool Villa, and in an exclusive Overwater Bungalow at the Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa.
You can read all about their beautiful honeymoon in the latest issue of the Australian Womens Weekly (Australian edition), and also at www.AitutakiLagoonResort.com.

Great place, beautiful properties, but nothing to do

Chris Ingram is out to change the perception that some Kiwis have of the Cook Islands, that is this is a great place, with beautiful properties, but nothing to do.
So for this famil (tourism-speak for familiarisation visit) which includes 14 senior consultants and managers from various travel agencies all over New Zealand, he has tempered their property inspections with a bit of activity.
The four day visit which is the third of its kind in two months also includes a trip to Aitutaki.
According to Ingram, the New Zealand market is doing well for us. At the end of May, New Zealand visitor figures were up by 20 per cent on the same time last year indicating that the Cook Islands is highly favoured in the New Zealand market.
As for the increase in fuel prices, “its playing into our hands.” People avoid travelling longer distances, and with the Cook Islands being in the three and a half hour zone it becomes more palatable.
He is finding that the Cook Islands is like bread and butter for travel agencies, and wholesalers are very keen to work with what the country offers.
Australia is still the most preferred destination for New Zealand travellers and they have a sizeable budget to attract Kiwis. Ingram says that there are other ways to increase the profile of the Cook Islands in the absence of a hefty budget. They are currently looking at taking on co-op partners, but that will only mean something to someone in the industry.
He says that the hot emerging destinations are Samoa and New Caledonia.
But Tourism’s advertising in New Zealand magazines and newspapers this winter has been effective.
“You can’t put a finger on booking patterns, people book the day before, people book the week before, and some people book the month before, there isn’t any real pattern.”
So for now their marketing campaign is just concerned with ensuring that there is a product out there.
“We are quite lucky here in the fact that we’ve got good resorts that go out and market on their own. Not only are they lifting the profile of their own product but lifting the profile of the destination.”
Ingram says that The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, Royale Takitumu Villas and the Pacific Resort and Villas are all evident in the New Zealand market.
Currently, he is looking at campaigns for August, and then September through to November.
He says that Kiwis are green minded and would appreciate nature, but they do enjoy the Cook Islands culture and the beautiful weather.
“Getting off the plane [on Wednesday] was absolutely tremendous seeing how beautiful the island looked.”
As for the Sunday flights to Aitutaki, he believes that it will certainly assist visitation to Aitutaki especially with the flights connecting up. But he says that we must also understand the social fabric of Aitutaki bearing in mind that people go to church on Sunday and like to relax. He says that in time and with understanding by all the parties we will find a formula that works and suits everyone.

Headlines : Times 258 07 July 2008
- A gift fit for a King
- Recognising the magic of Cook Islands pearls
- Power of coming together at PPA conference in August
- TAU gains landowner approval for wind farm
- QR to present Papa Ben Samuel with BEM in Penryhn

Headlines : Times 257 30 June 2008
- Proposed USP Campus expected to generate $3million annually in fees
- Manganese Nodules presentation at the Koutu Nui
- Road rebuilding to cost $1 million per kilometre
- 30 per cent savings to come from wind
- Catriona’s honeymoon getaway in Aitutaki

Headlines : Times 256 23 June 2008
- Uncertain times ahead
- The Budget: Where the money comes from
- Sunday flights a concern to Aitutaki residents
- Consultant to advise on growing the offshore finance industry
- Community workshops on climate change issues