The Cook Islands has launched its Destination Stewardship Plan 2026-2030, setting a new direction for how tourism will be managed to support environmental sustainability, protect cultural heritage and strengthen community wellbeing.
Launched on 26 March 2026 at the Cook Islands’ Global Business Update, the plan outlines a long-term vision for a tourism sector guided by Cook Islands values and is focused on stewardship of culture, the economy, communities and the environment – rather than growth in visitor numbers and revenue alone.
The plan was developed with support from the Climate Finance Capacity Support Programme following engagement with Cook Islands Tourism Corporation (CIT) at the request of the programme’s Cook Islands focal points – the Director of Climate Change within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Director of the Development Corporation Division within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. Together, the CFCSP and CIT identified an opportunity to strengthen the long-term sustainability and resilience of the tourism sector through a dedicated national stewardship framework.
The CFCSP subsequently mobilised targeted support, including CIT Responsible Tourism Programme Lead, Lisa Sadaraka, CIT Responsible Lead Consultant, Dr David Ermen, and Project Coordinator, Evangeline Nicholas, who worked alongside CIT to guide development of the plan and support coordination across government agencies and stakeholders in Rarotonga and the outer islands.
Beyond setting a new strategic direction for tourism, the Destination Stewardship Plan provides a pathway to strengthen climate resilience across the sector. This includes opportunities to climate-proof tourism infrastructure, protect the environment and natural assets that underpin the visitor economy, and accelerate the transition to renewable energy solutions that support long-term sustainability.
The Destination Stewardship Plan will ensure that tourism is managed with care, guided by [Cook Islands] values and directed toward outcomes that benefit all Cook Islanders.
Importantly, the plan provides a practical framework through which the Cook Islands can pursue financing for priority initiatives through national and international climate finance mechanisms, including Cook Islands national budget, New Zealand’s Country Flexible Finance initiative and the Green Climate Fund.
As implementation begins, the Destination Stewardship Plan positions the Cook Islands to continue building a tourism sector that delivers economic opportunity while safeguarding the environmental and cultural assets that define the nation for future generations.
The Destination Stewardship Plan 2026-2030 can be viewed online here.
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Feature image (left to right): Dr David Ermen, CIT Responsible Tourism Lead Consultant; Lisa Sadaraka, CIT Responsible Tourism Program Lead; Noa Seru, CFCSP Team Leader; Karla Eggelton, CIT CEO; Namrita Chand, CFCSP Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Manager; and Brad Kirner, CIT Director of Destination Development.