Tourism and Migration Statistics is a monthly publication of the number of travelers crossing our border, both visitors and residents.

Tourism and Migration Statistics February 2026

Key Facts

In February 2026, Cook Islands saw 10,149 total arrivals, with 8,649 visitors and 1,500 returning Cook Islanders and work permit holders. Visitor arrivals decreased by 26.2 percent compared to January 2026. Peak months are typically May to October, which aligns with Southern Hemisphere winter and potential holiday travel.

The majority of visitor arrivals came from New Zealand with 52.0 percent, followed by Australia with 21.6 percent, Europe 10.5 percent, and USA 7.5 percent.

The total Resident departures for February 2026 was (980), with a decrease of 31.2 percent when compared to January 2026 (1,425).

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Explanatory Notes

1. Source 

All data in this release is based on immigration arrival and departure cards as collected by Immigration Officers at the border.  These cards are completed on arrival and departure by every individual.

 2. Concepts and Definition

A “visitor” refers to any person who travels outside his/her own country of usual residence (irrespective of the purpose of visit). Cook Islanders who normally reside overseas and are visiting the Cook Islands, are classed as visitors.   This follows the concept of the usual place of residence.

The “usual place of residence” is the place where the person has resided for most of the last 12 months and will return and reside there.

The “purpose of visit” refers to a motivation of the trip, the reason in which the trip have taken place.

Excess outward and inward migration is calculated by deducting the number of departures from the number arrivals which, when a negative becomes a net outward migration and when positive is net inward migration.