‘We were very blessed’: in the Cook Islands, pandemic proved a welcome respite from tourists

Despite the loss of income, some people say they enjoyed the peace of border closures while the environment had a chance to recover

For nearly a year and a half after the onset of the pandemic, the Cook Islands didn't see a single tourist.

In early 2020 the south Pacific country was forced to close its borders to keep Covid-19 out. In doing so it shut the doors on an industry that contributes two-thirds of the remote island country's GDP.