5 Mar 2012

Pitcairn's coffers boosted by internet campaign

8:14 pm on 5 March 2012

Internet marketing for a new movie is helping boost the coffers of Pitcairn Island.

The island's internet domain name is now bringing in as much income as postage stamps for the remote British territory.

The island's telecommunications expert Bill Haigh says Pitcairn's .pn suffix has become popular in the last few months as publicity is ramped up for a new movie, The Hunger Games, set in the fictional nation of Panem.

He says the domain name now brings in tens of thousands of dollars.

"As postage stamp collectors have dwindled over recent years, some of that's been taken over by domain names. It's a small source of income for the island but it really is not all that significant compared to what it costs to run a place as remote as Pitcairn Island."

Bill Haigh says the prospect of more films in The Hunger Games series is good for Pitcairn which also earns revenue from collector coins and honey.