Optimize The Accommodation Of Cruise Passengers In Papeete

In recent weeks, there have been various operational issues during the stopovers in Papeete of large cruise ships, which can count more than 2,500 passengers.

The seafront and the spaces around the pigeon cruise ports of Papeete are under construction, this will last for some until the end of the year, and others until 2020. That is the site of the front in the city, the relocation of the visitor reception area of Tahiti Tourism, or the realization of the cruise terminal, the passengers of these ships land in a temporarily difficult space, with routes and flow management that needs to be optimized and streamlined.

These disadvantages will last for several months, and the Minister of Tourism, Nicole Bouteau, wished to gather, Wednesday afternoon, all the entities and professionals concerned to assess together the most pragmatic, rational and operational solutions. Thus, the municipality of Papeete and the municipal police, the Port Authority of Papeete, the Tourism Department, the General Resources Department, but also Papeete City Center, representatives of the Vaima Center, Tahiti Tourism, the Tahiti Cruise Club, and the cruise professionals met at the presidency of French Polynesia, for two hours of exchanges and constructive proposals.

Tahiti Cruise Club President Bud Gilroy said that for these ships with more than 3,000 cruise passengers, 40-50% of passengers plan their activities through the cruise line which sells them on board, around 30 % go down during the stopover to find other types of activities directly with the service providers, and according to the weather, 10 to 20% of the passengers make only a summary visit of the stopover or remain on board.

On the last stop of the Solstice, for example, it is thus 1,100 passengers in Papeete and 1,400 passengers in Bora Bora who, in a single day, have worked the providers of activities of these respective islands. In addition, Bud Gilroy also said that the need for managing passenger flows is concentrated mainly on three hours, between 8am and 11am, which are the most critical hours.

The director of the Autonomous Port of Papeete, Georges Puchon, allocator of a large part of the port area concerned, reminded his obligation to strictly enforce the international security codes to which he is subject. He also reaffirmed his wish not to hinder the possibility for providers to be able to present their products and excursions, since the economic benefits of the cruise are crucial for tourism development, with the need to be able, despite the works, to define a specific area where they can offer their services.

In order to guarantee the visitors the possibility to circulate either to the information area of Tahiti Tourism and the commercial district, or to the other side towards the city and the Vaima center, the Port Autonome is going to attach to clear the pedestrian lanes along the wharf. The service providers will then be accommodated in a defined area in the Vaiete area, in conjunction with the General Resources Department, the Tourism Department, the Land Transport Department and Tahiti Tourisme.

Other issues were mentioned related to the disruption of the seafront car traffic during major stops, or the distribution of flows in the city between the various commercial and cultural centers of attraction. There was also talk of future development of the Cruise Terminal, and the optimization of hospitality operations.

Nicole Bouteau has reaffirmed her wish to see a favorable evolution of the reception facilities, at the next stopover of steamers at the end of May, and to improve the various mobilizations and synergies until the month of September, during which to succeed several exceptional stops.

Government Communiqué

(Source: Published in Tahiti News Tourism 03 May 2018)

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