The Cook Islands government and the people of the northern island groups will be looking at ways to alleviate the high costs of air travel to their region.
The only airline, Air Rarotonga, has increased its fares by 69 percent to nearly 1,500 US dollars for a one-way ticket, citing the rise in operational costs as the major factor.
Elma MaUa reports.
"The government has promised to continue talks with stakeholders including Air Rarotonga this week despite the new airfares already in place. The mayor of Manihiki wants the government to subsidise the fuel costs but the Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Terepai Maoate, says while that is an option it's only a short term solution and they need to look long term."
The opposition leader Henry Puna says there's also huge concern for the pearl farming which has recovered from the devastation of Cyclone Martin in 1997. But he says the new airfares will set the industry back. Manihiki mayor Kora Kora agrees and warns pearl farming could disappear altogether.
