Cook Islands : Supporting Safe Recovery of Travel and Tourism

Sovereign Project | 55069-001

The goal of the proposal is to increase Cook Islands economic resilience through a safe recovery of travel and tourism in Cook Islands and the key objective is to strengthen the capacity and readiness of Cook Islands to safely open its borders to support a safe travel zone with New Zealand.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Homasi, Lily Anne F.
    Pacific Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Cook Islands
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name Supporting Safe Recovery of Travel and Tourism
Project Number 55069-001
Country / Economy Cook Islands
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 9225-COO: Supporting Safe Recovery of Travel and Tourism
Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific US$ 2.00 million
Operational Priorities OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP3: Tackling climate change, building climate and disaster resilience, and enhancing environmental sustainability
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Public sector management / Economic affairs management

Gender Some gender elements
Description

The goal of the proposal is to increase Cook Islands economic resilience through a safe recovery of travel and tourism in Cook Islands and the key objective is to strengthen the capacity and readiness of Cook Islands to safely open its borders to support a safe travel zone with New Zealand.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

In preparation for the safe opening of the Cook Islands borders, government requested ADB grant funding to support targeted activities for a safe travel zone between Cook Islands and New Zealand.

The Cook Islands, a tourism dependent economy has been severely affected due to a halt in visitors' arrivals, as a result of closing of borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing of borders on March 21, 2020, resulted in contractions to GDP growth estimated at -5.9% for FY2020. Further delays in the travel bubble will result in a contraction 26% of GDP in FY2021, ending June 2021.

The government and stakeholders have been able to progress certain preparatory work, but gaps remain on airport readiness, health facility readiness, testing capacity and contact tracing. Stakeholders agree that these are areas that would be useful for ADB through the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) to coordinate with government and support.

Impact

Cook Islands as a dynamic, resilient, prosperous, environmentally sustainable and inclusive economy sustaining quality of life for its citizens.

Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

Cook Islands readiness for safe recovery of travel and tourism improved.

Progress Toward Outcome The project has gained momentum with a fully established Project Management Unit (PMU) and its 1st contract award for civil works signed in March 2023.
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Airport and border readiness improved.

Health readiness improved.

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

1. RFQ for Airport civil works released 12 Oct 2022 and due 25 Oct 2022.2. Revisions to the RFQ on costings and scope to be discussed with stakeholders then relisted by Q3 2023.1. RFQ for civil works to be finalized by end of October 2022 for submission to ADB for clearance.2. Contract awarded in March 2023 and works commenced April 2023.3. Processing of proposed contract variation to include furniture and data/network cabling is ongoing.4. Works scheduled for completion on 4 August 2023.1. RFQ for medical equipment closed on 13 September 2022 and bid evaluation report due to ADB by end of October 2022. Contract award expected mid of November 2022.2. RFQ was relisted in December however due to non-conformance, the package is to undergo revision of technical specifications and relisted.3. RFQ was relisted in April 2023 and BER is being finalized. CA expected August 2023.

Q3 2023 Update:

Output 1: Airport readiness:

1.Tender was put on hold to secure additional financing to better support this package. The additional financing was approved in principle to be processed before the funding window lapsed December 2024.

Output 2: Health systems readiness:

1. Package JFPR03: Tupapa Health Facility Upgrade Around 90% of civil works completed.

2. Package JFPR01: Installation and Procurement of Medical Waste System ADB no-objection issued 7 September 2023. Contract award to be finalized and awarded in Q3/4.

Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Procurement

Procurement of goods and works under the project will be undertaken in accordance with

the ADB's Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time), Procurement Regulations

for ADB Borrowers (2017, as amended from time to time) and associated Staff Instructions. A

strategic procurement planning exercise has been undertaken to choose the optimal procurement

arrangements. The project will achieve the value for money by (i) using e-procurement technology

to lower the transaction cost and enhance process efficiency and transparency; and (ii) attracting

qualified contractors and suppliers for two works and one goods package following open

competitive bidding.

Responsible ADB Officer Homasi, Lily Anne F.
Responsible ADB Department Pacific Department
Responsible ADB Division Pacific Subregional Office in Suva, Fiji (SPSO)
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management
Timetable
Concept Clearance 14 Jun 2021
Fact Finding 11 Mar 2021 to 11 Mar 2021
MRM -
Approval 29 Oct 2021
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 27 Sep 2023

Grant 9225-COO

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
29 Oct 2021 02 Dec 2021 09 Dec 2021 30 Jun 2025 - -
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 2.50 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 18 Mar 2024 0.00 0.65 32%
Counterpart 0.50 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 2.00 18 Mar 2024 0.00 0.77 38%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory - - - Satisfactory

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.


Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.


Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.


Related Publications

None currently available.


The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

No tenders for this project were found.

Contracts Awarded

No contracts awarded for this project were found

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
Supporting Safe Recovery of Travel and Tourism: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Dec 2023