1. How would you introduce French Polynesia to our international audience, especially American readers, as a unique Pacific nation blending extraordinary natural beauty, deep cultural heritage, and growing geopolitical relevance?
First of all, I would say that we are one of your closest neighbors to the west, especially for those on the U.S. West Coast. For decades, we have welcomed many visitors from California and beyond.
Of course, I would tell you that French Polynesia is the most beautiful country in the world, but more importantly, it is a people worth meeting. It is not only our landscapes, our beaches, or our lagoons that strike visitors. It is the welcoming nature of our population. That is part of our identity and our heritage.
In our language, the literal translation of “tourist” is manihini, which means “guest.” We see visitors as guests, not as people simply passing through.
2. Since taking office, you have emphasized sustainable development and cultural empowerment. What is your long-term vision for French Polynesia, and how do you define balanced autonomy in today’s global context?
When we came into office, we conducted surveys to ensure that our tourism policies aligned with our broader political goals. We want tourism that is sustainable, inclusive, and rooted in our culture and history.
The surveys showed that a large majority of our population views tourism positively. Only a small number see it as a potential threat. That is understandable, other destinations have suffered from over-tourism. But even after three consecutive record years, we welcome around 280,000 visitors annually, roughly one tourist per inhabitant. Studies show that up to two tourists per resident is a very acceptable ratio, so there is still room for growth.
However, growth must be balanced. There must be “a Tahiti for everyone.” We have high-end visitors, many from North America, who dream of Bora Bora and the postcard experience. And they find it. But we also welcome travelers from Europe, Asia, and elsewhere who stay 14 to 16 days on average, an exceptional length of stay. They often mix accommodations: perhaps a guesthouse or Airbnb on several islands, and one special night in a luxury hotel.
We must accommodate different generations and different expectations, peace and tranquility for some, adventure and nightlife for others. But everything must respect our environment, our culture, and our people.
3. French Polynesia occupies a strategic position in the Pacific. How do you see the territory strengthening ties with the United States, Asia, and Indo-Pacific partners while preserving its identity?
If you look at the map, we are at the center of many Indo-Pacific strategies, those of the U.S., China, Australia, France, and others.
Our motto is simple: we align with no one, and we want to be friends with everyone. Historically, most of our visitors have come from North America, followed by Europe. But we also want to diversify, Mexico is a promising market, as is Australia. We are exploring the reestablishment of direct flights to Australia, which could also serve as a gateway to Asia.
Our approach in international relations is openness and friendship, while preserving our identity and interests.
4. Tourism remains central to the economy, but diversification is critical. What steps are being taken to develop marine resources, agriculture, digital services, and creative industries?
Our economic strategy rests on four pillars. The first is tourism. The second is the primary sector, fisheries, aquaculture, and agriculture.
In fisheries, we already catch 100 percent of the fish we consume, sustainably. In agriculture, we are still too dependent on imports, so increasing food self-sufficiency is a priority. At the same time, we want to expand exports. Our vanilla is among the best in the world. We export about 2,500 tons of sashimi-grade tuna annually. There is potential to grow, always with respect for the environment.
Last year, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, we designated our entire 5 million square kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone as a Class 6 Marine Protected Area. Within it, 1.1 million square kilometers are highly restricted zones. Without the environment, there is nothing. Visitors expect pristine lagoons and a protected ocean, and we are committed to that.
We now have two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Taputapuātea and the Marquesas Islands. We also have biosphere reserves such as Fakarava. But preservation must not oppose development. People must see economic value in protecting nature. That is why we involve grassroots communities in decision-making.
5. How are you ensuring tourism development protects ecosystems and benefits local communities?
Many of our hoteliers are deeply committed to environmental preservation and community inclusion. We have a strong tourism school that trains local youth in close partnership with the industry.
We are pioneers in seawater air conditioning (SWAC). Two hotels, one in Bora Bora and The Brando on Tetiaroa, use it, as does our public hospital. It is highly efficient and reduces fossil fuel use. On Tetiaroa, the hotel also supports scientific research on endangered species and climate adaptation.
Many hotels partner with Coral Gardeners, an organization born in Moorea, whose young members graft coral to restore reefs.
We also respect local wishes. Islands like Maupiti and Raivavae have said they do not want large hotels, only guesthouses. We respect that. Smaller-scale tourism often ensures more direct economic benefit to local communities.
There must be a Tahiti for Beyoncé privatizing a luxury resort, and also for the backpacker discovering our valleys. Both are welcome.
6. What investments are being prioritized in transport, energy, and digital networks?
Air connectivity has expanded significantly. We now have two domestic airlines, with a third focused on freight and a fourth targeting high-end travelers. International frequencies from Los Angeles and Paris have increased.
We are also adding four new mixed cargo vessels to strengthen maritime connectivity.
Digitally, we have improved bandwidth through low-orbit satellite constellations such as OneWeb, and we are opening the market to others like Starlink and Kuiper. Our goal is to ensure connectivity across all 180 islands. We are as large as Europe geographically, so digital access is essential.
Additionally, Google has laid undersea cables in our Exclusive Economic Zone, two have already landed, with more to come. This will significantly strengthen our international bandwidth and create opportunities in the digital economy.
7. How are you strengthening education, innovation, and Polynesian identity?
For decades, our education system mirrored France’s. While it is a strong system, it did not fully reflect our history and mindset.
We now have around 20 bilingual schools where children are taught in both French and a Polynesian language, not just taught the language, but taught subjects like math and geography in it. This has produced excellent results, with improved performance across disciplines. Our goal is to generalize this model in the coming years and strengthen English instruction as well.
We also revived cultural markers, such as recognizing November 20, the rising of the Pleiades, or Matari’i, as a public holiday. It marks abundance in our traditional calendar. Thousands celebrated its reinstatement last year. These initiatives reinforce our identity in modern public life.
8. What opportunities exist for U.S. businesses and investors?
There are many opportunities, tourism, green energy, ocean-related industries, digital infrastructure.
We have an Economic Development Agency that serves as a one-stop gateway for investors, providing clarity on legal and tax frameworks.
Major projects include the renovation of Tahiti’s international airport, a feasibility study for a second airport in the Marquesas (only 2.5 hours from Hawaii), urban redevelopment projects in Papeete, and decentralization initiatives worth around 100 billion Pacific francs.
In renewable energy, we are advancing Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), generating electricity from the temperature difference between deep and surface waters. If successful, it could be transformative for island nations.
9. Finally, what message would you like to share with Los Angeles Times readers about French Polynesia’s future?
We share many environmental values with California. We do not see ourselves as separate from nature, we are part of it.
I invite your readers to experience not only our pristine environment but also the warmth of our people. We have five archipelagos, each unique. The atolls of the Tuamotu, the dramatic mountains of the Marquesas, the traditions of the Austral Islands, the iconic lagoons of the Leeward Islands, each offers something different.
So perhaps you should come five times, once for each archipelago.
Whether you are a visitor or an investor, you are welcome in French Polynesia.
.png)
