Gaston Tong Sang , Mayor of Bora Bora

Could you please give us a presentation on the history of Bora Bora?

Since my election in 1989, we have faced major challenges for our island. One of the first was access to running water. At that time, even hotels had to manage their own water supply and waste treatment systems. It was a time when waste was often neglected and poorly managed. As I have often reminded, "Responsible resource management is the key to success."Next, we implemented wastewater sanitation solutions to protect our lagoon. We were the first in the Pacific to adopt a system for collecting and treating wastewater across the entire island. This was crucial to preserving our natural environment. As I emphasized, "Protecting our lagoon is protecting our future."Waste was another significant challenge. At that time, waste management was rudimentary, harming our environment and tourist image. Therefore, we invested in modern waste treatment facilities to keep our island clean and attractive to visitors. As I often reiterated, "A clean environment is essential for a thriving tourist economy."The tourism industry played a crucial role in achieving these projects. Tourism revenues funded these vital initiatives for our island. As I emphasized, "Tourism is a precious resource to protect and responsibly exploit."Finally, we worked on transitioning to renewable energies. We undertook ambitious projects to develop green energy solutions, including hydrogen and ocean thermal energy. As I emphasized, "Investing in renewable energies is crucial for our future."In summary, we have overcome significant challenges through innovation, collaboration, and determination. As I have often reminded, "With vision and perseverance, everything is possible."

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It has now been more than 28 years since you have been the mayor of the municipality of Bora Bora. What are the current projects and objectives for the years to come?

Bora Bora's economy has undergone significant shifts over the years, particularly within the tourism sector. As early as 2008, our goal was to achieve a hotel capacity of 1,000 rooms. This milestone was instrumental in maintaining a balanced operating account without unduly burdening prices for both locals and hotel establishments. Unfortunately, the economic downturn resulted in the closure of four hotels, amounting to nearly 400 rooms. Presently, we operate with approximately 600 hotel rooms.In 2019, we embarked on a strategic reassessment. Recognizing the importance of balancing development with environmental preservation, we reaffirmed our commitment to achieving the 1,000-room target despite the challenges we faced. Additionally, we took measures to limit the number of cruise passengers to 1,000 per day and explored alternatives such as villa construction rather than traditional hotel expansion.I want to emphasize the crucial role tourism plays in our island's economy. Despite the reduced number of hotel rooms, studies have shown that tourism remains a significant revenue generator. It's a testament to the continuous efforts of our local stakeholders that Bora Bora maintains its position in the global tourist economy.

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How many tourists visit Bora Bora every year? What are their nationalities?

In 2008, we welcomed 120,000 tourists, benefiting from a hotel capacity of 1,000 rooms. However, today, with only 600 to 700 rooms available, we struggle to surpass the 100,000 visitor mark. This decline can be attributed to various factors, including the closure of Asian and South American markets due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The current government's ambitious target of attracting 600,000 tourists by 2035, as highlighted by the mayor, contradicts our previously defined strategy. There are concerns regarding the ecological risks and potential imbalances in the ecosystem that such a large influx of tourists could bring. It is imperative to maintain the integrity of our destination's image by avoiding excessive densification of tourist infrastructure.

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What is your vision for the development of French Polynesia from a political and economic perspective?

The mayor emphasizes the importance of tourism for the island's development, stating, "Tourism is still an essential sector for our development." He expresses his preference for luxury tourism rather than seeking to increase tourist traffic at any cost, saying, "So, my vision is to say that we can do tourism, but we should always aim for luxury."He highlights the advantage of Polynesia's geographical remoteness, which contributes to preserving its environment, saying, "Our advantage in Polynesia is that we are so far from the continents; this remoteness can be an asset for the environment."The mayor stresses the importance of implementing environmental protection measures to ensure long-term sustainable tourism, saying, "We need to implement systems to prevent local pollution."

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What are you most proud of in your personal and professional life?

The mayor expresses his desire to restore the island's marine ecosystem: "The objective for tomorrow is to make this lagoon even more alive, filled with fish."The mayor shares childhood memories related to fishing and expresses his wish to regain that abundance of fish: "And to find a bit of my childhood memory. When we used to go fishing, we would bring back loads of fish."

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What is your final message to Newsweek readers considering Bora Bora and French Polynesia as a potential destination for investment and tourism?

The mayor addresses a message to readers, especially to Americans, emphasizing the importance of Bora Bora for them: "We can tell them that Bora has always been an adopted island for them." He also expresses his desire to preserve the cultural heritage and warm hospitality of the island: "I do everything to preserve this sense of hospitality that we inherit from our ancestors, of the welcoming Pacific people, proud of their culture and their dances."The mayor stresses the authenticity of the experience offered to visitors, evoking the feeling of peace and tranquility that one experiences in Bora: "So we must remain authentic.”