There has been a call for a tourism boycott of the Cook Islands after its government moved to strengthen anti-gay laws.
A Cook Islands beach. Photo: 123rf
Earlier this month, a select committee recommended reinstating clauses banning homosexual sex into a proposed amendment of the Crimes Act.
Stuff reports a tourism boycott was proposed last week by an Auckland Pacific community advocate, Soala Wilson.
The New Zealand tourism academic Simon Milne said such a boycott could adversely the Cooks' tourism dependent economy.
The AUT professor said tourism tended to be affected by that type of negative publicity and boycotts were a very real threat.
Two years ago, Parliament removed "indecent acts between men" from a draft Crimes Bill.
However, select committee chair Tingika Elikana has said the clause would be reinstated.
His select committee recommended Parliament reinstate a sentence of seven years' prison for gay sex.
*RNZ Pacific previously reported InsideOUT supported the boycott. Managing Director Tabby Besley says they do not support the boycott.