Tourists Told to Cut Air Conditioning, Save Fuel on Cook Islands

Tourists to the Cook Islands — a South Pacific chain of islands and atolls famed for its clear lagoons and white-sand beaches — are being asked to curb air conditioning and conserve energy as the nation tries to stretch fuel supplies and protect essential services.

Visitors and households should set air-conditioners to 25C (77F), switch them off when they leave the room, unplug appliances at the wall and opt for walking, cycling or carpooling for short trips, according to a government statement this week. Like many Pacific island nations, the Cooks rely heavily on imported diesel to generate electricity, leaving them especially exposed in a fuel crunch that has disrupted shipments.