For a (relatively) quiet destination, a lot is going on in Tahiti – as Karryon finds out at the biannual Meet The Islands of Tahiti Roadshow in Sydney.
For starters, several new hotels have either recently opened or are in the pipeline.
The Westin Bora Bora Resort and Spa, with its overwater bungalows, flung open its doors this month (you can read our story on that property here), while Tikehau by Pearl Resorts, which also boasts overwater bungalows (hey, this is Tahiti) also opened in October.
Another recent opening is MaiTai Express Tahiti, a more affordable product that goes to show that not everywhere in Tahiti need cost an arm and a leg.
Then there’s the Te Rai’atea resort, which opens in 2026 – and if its imagery is anything to go by, it’s going to be a cracker of a property too.
In total, Tahiti boasts around 23,000 accommodation rooms, with nearly half of those vacation rental properties.
According to Tahiti Tourisme, capacity is up five per cent in 2024 year-on-year.
Elsewhere, the islands’ cruise terminal is due to open this month. The much-needed new terminal will cater for the multiple cruise lines that call on the idyllic islands like Silversea, Aranui, Paul Gauguin and Windstar.
Even Tahiti’s main airport, Tahiti Faa’a, is getting a makeover. The new airport facade has already been delivered while the hub will also see check-in capacity double by 2026 and a new domestic departure lounge completed by late 2025. New automated border control is also due by year’s end.
And it’s going to need all of this if tourism continues on its upward trajectory.
Speaking to Karryon at the Sydney roadshow event, Tahiti Tourisme ANZ Account Director Caroline Brunel said total visitor numbers to the islands reached more than 300,000 in 2023. And while Aussie visitors comprise a relatively small percentage of that figure – less than 10,000 visitors – the Australian market is heading in the right direction.
“Australia, from January to August [2024] is tracking up two per cent [y-o-y],” she said.
“An interesting fact is that from August to August, from Australia, online searches for Tahiti were up 54 per cent (#4 worldwide). So there is clearly an appetite – people want to go.”
Brunel says that it’s therefore about converting potential holidaymakers into actual visitors – especially in the low season (from around November to April).
“We’re all about slow travel, so it’s really embracing these kind of trends which take your time and have more space.
“And because we’re such a boutique destination, you never feel like you’re surrounded by tourists, but it’s even better when you go in the low season or the shoulder season.”
It doesn’t really help that there are no non-stop flights between Australia and French Polynesia – the only South Pacific nation, or at least major nation in the region, to not have a direct link with Australia.
Caroline says this is the biggest “request” that the tourism office has for Air Tahiti Nui, which many years ago operated a direct service from Sydney. It’s also a common enquiry among travel advisors.
“But people are still choosing Tahiti because it is such a unique destination,” Brunel adds.
It’s also a destination with sustainability at the front of mind.
“Put it in perspective… I think Hawaii is like 9 million [visitors] every year,” she says.
“We are a boutique destination, but that’s exactly where we want to be especially when you are going to embrace sustainability.”
And travel advisors have their part to play too. Because of Tahiti’s popularity among American and French travellers, who are booking their trips well in advance, Australians also need to forward plan their Tahitian getaways. Enter advisors.
Biggest incentive ever
To this end, Tahiti Tourisme unveiled its biggest-ever trade incentive for travel agents during the roadshow.
The Dream Big Incentive offers nine trips (five for Australia, four for NZ) to the Islands of Tahiti for travel agents from Australia and New Zealand.
To enter, agents must book trips for their clients and log them on the Tahiti Specialist Programme between 14 October and 31 December 2024.
Winners can also bring guests on their trips, with prizes including cruises, hotel stays, flights and more. Agents earn one point per person booked, with three bonus points for trips during the low season (1 November to 31 March). High-value bookings over $30,000 earn an extra 10 points.
Brunel told Karryon this year’s roadshow was its biggest ever, with 13 partners (15 in NZ) in attendance, including Air Tahiti Nui, cruise lines, destination management companies and property groups like Hilton French Polynesia, Intercontinental Hotel Group and Pearl Resorts.
The travel trade roadshow hits Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland for five days of workshops, lunches and soirees.
