Tourism statisticsCountry2026
Cook Islands Tourism Statistics: 113,600 Arrivals in 2022
The Cook Islands recorded 113,600 international tourist arrivals in 2022, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data. This counts people crossing a border, so domestic trips are not in it. AirROI estimates 11,511 Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, with Ngatangiia the most booked city. The busiest month was July.
Small sample Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 79,725
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 6.9 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- July
- From abroad, among guests who left a review
- over 99%
Key facts
Cook Islands Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- UN Tourism puts the Cook Islands at 113,600 international tourist arrivals in 2022, via Our World in Data.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands at 11,511 in the 12 months to October 2026, from a small sample.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands added up to 79,725 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in the Cook Islands lasted 6.9 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 116 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks July the busiest Airbnb month in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by August and September, with February the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in the Cook Islands ran unbroken from May to October in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands in July were booked furthest ahead, about 143 days, against 81 days for February, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates over 99% of Cook Islands Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 came from abroad, led by New Zealand at 54% and Australia at 22%.
By place
- AirROI ranks the Cook Islands 118th for Airbnb stays among the 157 countries in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Ngatangiia had the most Airbnb stays of the 3 towns it lists in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, at 3,023, ahead of Avarua and Takitumu.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit the Cook Islands?
UN Tourism counted 113,600 international tourist arrivals in 2022, via Our World in Data.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 113,600International tourist arrivals | Trips by visitors arriving from abroad who stay at least one night, each arrival counted separately | 2022 | UN Tourism, via Our World in Data |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands had 488 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 11,511 stays and 79,725 nights. A typical stay lasted 6.9 nights and was booked about 116 days ahead, longer than the worldwide stay of 5.2 nights. AirROI's figures cover the 5 towns it tracks in the Cook Islands; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 488
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 11,511
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 79,725
- Typical stay
- 6.9 nights
- Booked ahead
- 116 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in the Cook Islands?
On Airbnb, July was the busiest month in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, then August and September. February was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from May to October.
July ranks first, February last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: July, August, September, June, October, May, November, April, December, January, March, February.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| July | 10.6% | 143 days |
| August | 10.4% | 131 days |
| September | 9.9% | 131 days |
| June | 9.5% | 122 days |
| October | 9.2% | 129 days |
| May | 8.3% | 102 days |
| November | 7.9% | 109 days |
| April | 7.8% | 115 days |
| December | 7.1% | 118 days |
| January | 7.0% | 104 days |
| March | 6.6% | 100 days |
| February | 5.6% | 81 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Cook Islands Airbnb Guests Come From?
Among Cook Islands Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, nearly all came from abroad (over 99%), led by New Zealand at 54% and Australia at 22%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Auckland was the top origin city at 17%, ahead of Wellington at 5.9%. The figures rest on 23,416 reviews, written over many years.
Over 99% from abroad
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From abroad over 99%
- From within the Cook Islands under 1%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in the Cook Islands
Ngatangiia, Avarua and Takitumu took 74% of Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026. July is the busiest Airbnb month in 2 of the 3 towns, led by Ngatangiia, and August in 1, led by Takitumu. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from over 99% in Avarua to over 99% in Takitumu.
| Ngatangiia | 3,023 |
| Avarua | 2,862 |
| Takitumu | 2,645 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. New Zealand is the top origin in every town, among guests who left a review. Lists the 3 of the Cook Islands' 5 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in the Cook Islands
How many tourists visit the Cook Islands?
The Cook Islands had 113,600 international tourist arrivals in 2022, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. Domestic trips are not in that count. AirROI estimates 11,511 Airbnb stays in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in the Cook Islands?
The busiest Airbnb month in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026 was July, then August and September. The six busiest months run from May to October.
What is the quietest month in the Cook Islands?
February was the quietest Airbnb month in the Cook Islands in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and March ranked 11th. Stays in February were booked about 81 days ahead, against 143 days for July.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in the Cook Islands?
A typical Airbnb stay in the Cook Islands lasted 6.9 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 116 days ahead. That is longer than the worldwide 5.2 nights. By month, stays ran from 6.5 nights in January to 7.5 nights in December.
Where do Airbnb guests in the Cook Islands come from?
Of Cook Islands Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, over 99% came from abroad, AirROI estimates. The largest groups were New Zealand at 54% and Australia at 22%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Auckland at 17%, ahead of Wellington at 5.9%.
What is the most booked town in the Cook Islands on Airbnb?
Ngatangiia was the most booked town in the Cook Islands on Airbnb, with an estimated 3,023 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Avarua and Takitumu.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. UN Tourism counts international tourist arrivals (113,600 in 2022). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 11,511 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 5 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 23,416 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.