The Cook Islands prime minister, Dr Robert Woonton, says he is upbeat about the growth in tourism which he expects to come from lower fares offered by Air New Zealand.
From May the 20th, fares to some Pacific destinations, including Rarotonga, will be dropped.
Dr Woonton says the so-called Pacific Express fares will do to air travel to the Pacific what lower fares have done to links across the Tasman.
"They are getting the same result introducing Pacific Express to the Pacific. That has given them a lot of confidence because it's almost doubling the volume of traffic to the Pacific Islands."
Dr Woonton was speaking after this week's talks with Air New Zealand in Auckland.
