“Polynesia Has The Wind In Its Sails” With Metropolitan Tourists

Tourism Minister Nicole Bouteau met with representatives of Tahiti Tourism in France to take stock after three days of presence and meetings with French tourism professionals at IFTM Top Resa.

Between 2015 and 2016, the French market is the second market, in terms of attendance, for the destination Tahiti and its islands, after the United States. With more than 39,000 visitors, this market grew by 9.7% in 2016. A further rise in attendance from France is expected to occur this year as estimates to date are of the order of 40,000 tourists in 2017, an increase of 2.5%.

In 2016, almost 500 new travel agents were trained at the destination, 10% more, with a greater presence of Polynesia in the national media as well as audiovisual media, as well as written press or web-media. Two press trips are organized each year to promote Tahiti and its islands which, beyond the destination “Honeymoon”, is now also presented as an experience destination.

Although Polynesia is competing with other destinations, it has among its assets, its culture, the image of a “peaceful” destination, the welcome and warmth of the Polynesians, with also the recent ranking of Taputapuatea the World Heritage of UNESCO and the actions of Polynesia in the protection and enhancement of its environment.

These are the actions that Disney Nature wishes to highlight during the press trip which will be organized next January in Polynesia in the perspective of the film “Blue” which raises awareness of the protection of the oceans and of which many images were filmed in our islands. The representation of Tahiti Tourism in France is now also targeting lovers of nature and the environment.

The French market, in search of authenticity, is also a market that appreciates the product of accommodation of type pension which the Country supports in its structuring process. The professionals also welcomed with great enthusiasm the current modification of the regulations on underwater diving which will allow, once the text adopted by the Assembly of French Polynesia, to open the activity to instructors Padi .

The Minister of Tourism ended her trip to Paris with a visit to the travel agency Tahiti Spirit, one of the main specialists of the destination. She was able to thank the team of ten people who dedicated their activity to selling the destination Tahiti and its islands throughout the year, with the organization of “à la carte” trips. According to these professionals,“Polynesia has the wind in its sails”.

(Source: Tahiti News Tourism 02 October 2017)