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

Tourism and Migration Statistics May 2026

Key Facts

Total arrivals to the Cook Islands reached 18,755 in May 2026, comprising of 17,285 visitors and 1,470 returning residents and permit holders. Visitor numbers increased by 7.5 percent from April 2026, marking a strong start to the travel season. The islands usually see their high peak from May through October, driven by the cooler Southern Hemisphere winter.

The majority of visitor arrivals came from New Zealand with 62.0 percent, followed by Australia with 27.0 percent, Europe 3.8 percent, and USA 3.6 percent.

Total resident departures decreased by 1.5 percent this May 2026 (1,070), when compared to April 2026 (1,086)

More information on Tourism and Migration Statistics

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.