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French Polynesia
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French Polynesia is the stuff artists dream of… Gauguin was famous for his depiction of this romantic region. Polynesia is made up of several groups of islands including Tahiti and the Society Islands. Bora Bora is perhaps one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but island dreamers will want to pull their heads out of the clouds when it comes to buying private island property in her blue lagoon. Prices run high for a piece of paradise. Islands purchases by foreigners are ... subject to the scrutiny of government approval.
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Despite a local assembly and government, French Polynesia is not in a free association with France, like the Cook Islands with New Zealand or Puerto Rico with the United States. As a French overseas collectivity, the local government has no competence in justice, education, security and defense, directly provided and administered by the French State, the Gendarmerie and the French Military. The highest representant of the State in the territory is the High Commissioner of the Republic (French: Haut commissaire de la République).
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French Polynesia had a disappointing 2006 as a result of a decline in visitor arrivals from France - the overseas territory's main market. The French visitor count totalled 42,000, a decrease of 7%. The Tahiti Office of Tourism explained that most France/Tahiti flights transit through the USA, and there are well-known difficulties in obtaining the necessary electronic passport, so some travellers have been deterred from making the trip. However, 2007 looks more promising with Tahiti Tourism forecasting over 46,000 visits from France. Two promotional campaigns will be launched in France - an investment of €610,000. A pre-booking tool on the internet (www.tahiti-tourisme.fr) will be made available, enabling travellers to compare the prices of packages offered by various French tour operators.
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French Polynesia has a unique culinary tradition, with old South Pacific cooking methods combining with French gastronomy and Italian and Chinese influences. This manifests itself not just in the flashy restaurants but ... in the cheap roadside mobile snack bars, les roulottes. Food is still cooked in traditional pit ovens that are common throughout the Pacific. A hole is dug in the ground, stones are placed within it and then a fire is lit to heat the stones. The food, wrapped in banana leaves, is placed on top, and then the hole is filled in again with earth. The baking process takes several hours.
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French Polynesia comprises 120 islands divided into five archipelagos: the Society Archipelago, Tuamotu Archipelago, Marquesas Islands, Austral Islands and Mangreva Islands. The Windward and Leeward Islands, collectively called the Society Archipelago, are mountainous with coastal plains. Tahiti, the largest of the Windward group, is dominated by Mount Orohena at 2236m (7337ft) and Mount Aorai at 2068m (6786ft). Moorea lies next to Tahiti, a picturesque volcanic island with white sand beaches. The Leeward Islands to the west are generally lower in altitude. The largest islands are Raiatea and Bora Bora.
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French transfers to French Polynesia and a pegged exchange rate (formerly to the French franc, now to the Euro) protect French Polynesia's economy from major fluctuations. The economy grew in 2005 relative to 2004, although the tourism, fishing and public works sectors did not perform strongly; growth was more due to household consumption and corporate investment and activity. Inflation rose to 2.3 per cent in 2005 (up from 0.8 per cent in 2004). GDP at current prices was USD 4.7 billion in 2003, up from USD 3.8 billion in 2002. GDP per capita was USD 19,272 in 2003. Employment grew by 4 per cent in 2005.
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French Polynesia