The revamp of the platform was among the updates shared with about 100 travel agents who attended the Tahiti Looks Nice! Pacific roadshow event at JW Marriott on Thursday night. The evening gave New Zealand trade a chance network with 22 Tahiti suppliers at table- top meetings and also incorporated education panel discussions, entertainment and a meal.
Tahiti Tourisme CEO Vaihere Lissant says the organisation sees considerable potential from the New Zealand market and other parts of APAC, especially when it comes to diversifying the mix of clientele and spreading visitation across different types of product and around the various islands of the destination.
‘There is a Tahiti for everyone – honeymooners and other couples, families and multi-gen groups, luxury travellers, adventurers and others. We know from a survey last year that what people really rate highly is the beauty of our landscapes and the welcoming culture of our people and those are two things we work hard to protect and maintain.’
Tahiti has long walked the talk when it comes to focusing on sustainable tourism rather than chasing high numbers. Lissant says nothing has changed in that regard.
‘We manage the destination to ensure the growth is responsible and that the number of tourists is in proportion to the local population – about 280,000 a year. Our strategy with cruise ships is that they need to fit in with our infrastructure – 80% of the ships that visit carry less than 600 passengers and four cruise lines (Windstar, Pual Gauguin / PONANT, Variety Cruises and Aranui) home port. Larger ships are allowed at only three of our 118 islands.
‘We also encourage pre and post cruise visitors to help the flow of tourism – it is important that the economic impact really benefits the whole community.’
Lissant also emphasises the growing mix of accommodation types which is continuing to open the destination to people on a range of budgets. ‘We have guests houses, rental homes, yacht charters, plus more and more two-star hotels. Of course we have a reputation for overwater accommodation and that is important to us, but we are also more than that.’
Paula Savill, Windstar; Bud Gilroy, chair of Tahiti Tourisme
Jo-Anne Khor, North Shore Business Travel; Alan Wilcock, Paul Gauguin Cruises, Alison Sharp, Envoyage
