Cook Islands and Vanuatu lift all Covid-19 travel restrictions

​The Cook Islands and Vanuatu have joined Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Papua New Guinea in lifting all Covid-19 travel restrictions to international travel and tourism in the Pacific.

From this week, visitors to the Cook Islands and Vanuatu will no longer have to produce a negative Covid-19 test on arrival.

The move aligns them to World Health Organization recommendations that travel restrictions be eased or restricted.

Pacific Tourism Organisation CEO Christopher Cocker welcomes the lifting of restrictions.

“As a major economic driver in our region it is important for tourism reactivation to occur sooner rather than later.

"The new measures will support the recovery of the sector which will have positive flow-on effects in terms of economic and social considerations."

He acknowledged the pace or reopening in the Pacific compared to elsewhere.

“In comparison to the rest of the world the Pacific has been slower in reopening our borders but this has been done with our unique circumstances in mind and with the safety of our people at the forefront of considerations," says Cocker.

"However, with successful vaccination campaigns now complete in many of our islands we are better positioned to reopen and welcome visitors back to the Pacific."