The Cook Islands has been named Oceania’s Leading Island Destination at the 2026 World Travel Awards, securing the prestigious regional title for the fourth consecutive year.
The latest accolade cements the Cook Islands continued recognition among the Pacific’s leading island destinations. The Cook Islands took the 2026 title ahead of Fiji, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, the Islands of Tahiti, Vanuatu and the Whitsunday Islands in Australia.
The World Travel Awards are recognised globally for celebrating excellence across the travel and tourism industry.
Winners are determined through votes from tourism professionals and travellers around the world. The Cook Islands has enjoyed a strong record at the World Travel Awards, with Aitutaki previously named Oceania’s Leading Island Destination in 2022 before the Cook Islands took the title in 2023 and retained it each year since.
Commenting on the accolade, Graeme West, General Manager Cook Islands Tourism said, “Tourism is the backbone of the Cook Islands economy, contributing to more than two-thirds of its GDP. With the growth of the Australian market over the past few years, Australians will attribute 26% of Cook Islands visitor arrivals in 2026 (compared to 17% pre-pandemic). The largest market is New Zealand, which historically had a market share of about 67%, but will be 63% in 2026, due to Australia’s growth.’’
The fourth consecutive win, highlights the Cook Islands enduring appeal as a Pacific destination and the strength of its tourism offering, from its crystal-clear blue lakes, pristine natural environment and distinctive culture to its hospitality and visitor experiences.
The award also recognises the collective efforts of the Cook Islands tourism industry and the people across the islands who contribute to welcoming visitors and showcasing the destination to the world.
The 2026 World Travel Awards took place at a VIP gala ceremony in the Maldives on 27 September 2026. The awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.
