OnlyTahiti.com Announces The New Government Of Tahiti

Tahiti (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Marc Collins, Tahiti's new tourism minister, wants to focus on all types of visitor markets, particularly "baby boomers".

"I want us to professionalize tourism. The entire product range must be developed, not only the upmarket or the honeymoon market," said the 41-year-old Collins. He was one of 16 ministers appointed Tuesday in the new French Polynesia government of pro-independence party leader Oscar Temaru. (http://onlytahiti.com/TahitiNewsCenter.html)

"Today, it's the baby boomers who have the biggest buying power, and those are the ones we must bring here," said Collins, the only minister without any prior political or government experience. He also has the portfolio of international airline transportation.

Although he described his appointment as "unexpected", Collins said, "With 15 years of tourism experience I'm used to dealing with investors." Collins and his wife created a chain of five Tahitian cultured pearl boutiques in Tahiti and Her Islands.

The first of the Tahia Collins boutiques was started up on Tahiti's sister island of Moorea, where Collins became president of the Moorea Tourism Committee. He said he began his career in the tourism industry working as a receptionist and then as a bicycle renter before selling Tahitian cultured pearls. He and his wife have two children, ages two and nine.

The Tahia Collins boutique on Moorea is located near the Petit Village opposite the former Club Méditerranée site. There is also a boutique in downtown Papeete opposite the cruise ship docks, at the Hotel Bora Bora, the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa and aboard the Papeete-based cruise ship M/S Paul Gauguin.

France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand star 1st semester performers

Tahiti's four best tourist market performers during the first semester were France, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, with some backup support from New Caledonia, Spain and Germany.

The key market in a definite slump was North America in general and the U.S. Mainland in particular as both continued to lose volume and market share compared with a year ago. And June's results were no help.

The French market remained ahead of a year ago with a first semester result of 19,761 visitors. That was 1,343 more (+7.3%) over the 18,418 visitors for the same period a year ago, increasing France's market share from 35.1% to 36.3%.

However, considering the heavy volume of flights from Paris to Tahiti, June produced 3,541 French tourists, an increase of 123 over last year's 3,418 tourists.

Tahiti remains one of the few destinations in the South Pacific that is steadily reporting good results for its Japan market. The first semester results were 11,206 visitors, an increase of 1,222 (+12.2%) over last year's 9,984 visitors. That increased Japan's market share of Tahiti's tourists from 10% to 10.9% and provided Tahiti with an average of 1,867 visitors per month.

Australia continued its record pace of more than 1,000 visitors a month, producing 6,054 visitors for the first semester. That was 694 more (+12.9%) than the 5,360 visitors for the same period last year. And June kept pace with 1,053 visitors from Australia, 168 more (+19%) than the 885 visitors a year ago.

Showing the positive impact of a strong Kiwi dollar, New Zealand also continued its star performance during the first semester, producing 4,110 visitors for Tahiti. That was 607 more (+17.3%) than the 3,503 visitors for the same period last year. But June did not keep pace as 941 New Zealanders visited, 17 less than a year ago.

Italy, the biggest European market after France, appears to have quieted down, producing 4,710 visitors during the first semester, or 78 more than a year ago. June, which is traditionally not a big month for Italian visitors, produced 2,009 Italians, or nine more than a year ago.

Europe, not including France, produced 17,689 first semester visitors, an increase of 1,254 (+7.6%) over the 16,435 visitors for the same period a year ago. The market share went from 16.5% last year to 17.1% this year.

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