French Polynesia Country & Tourist Information

Location
South Pacific.

Area
4,167 sq km (1,609 sq miles).

Population
252,000 (UN estimate 2005).

Population Density
60.5 per sq km.

Capital
Papeete (Tahiti Island).
Population: 26,181 (census 2002).

Government
French Overseas Territory since 1946.

Language
The official languages are French and Tahitian. Other Polynesian languages are spoken by the indigenous population. English is widely understood, mainly by islanders accustomed to dealing with foreign visitors.

Religion
Approximately 55% Protestant and 34% Catholic.

Time
Tahiti and Her Islands span three time zones:

Gambier Islands: GMT - 9.
Marquesas Islands: GMT - 9.5.
Society Archipelago, Tubuai Islands, Tuamotu Archipelago (except Gambier Islands), Tahiti: GMT - 10.

Electricity
110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. US-style two-pin plugs are in use.

Head of Government
Oscar Temaru, President of the Council of Ministers since February 2009.

Head of State
President Nicolas Sarkozy since 2007, represented locally by High Commissioner Anne Bouquet.

Recent History
Tahiti and her Islands gained Overseas Country status in 2004. Pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru was elected by the territory's assembly in March 2005. It was the third change in leadership in 12 months and followed months of wrangling between Mr Temaru and pro-France rival, Gaston Flosse. Mr Flosse's government lost a vote of confidence on February 2005, precipitating the poll in which Mr Temaru defeated the pro-France candidate, Gaston Tang Sang by 29 votes to 26.

In February 2008, veteran politician Gaston Flosse was re-elected president for the fourth time in 25 years. A year later, Oscar Temaru is back in the presidential role, his fourth time in office since 2004. He is the ninth president in five years.

Telephone
Country code: 689. Operator assistance may be required for international calls. There are many phone booths which operate using cards (Telecarte) that can be purchased at the airport, bars, magazine stands and the post office. Hotel telephone charges are extremely high.

Mobile Telephone
The GSM 900 network is not compatible with US mobile phones. Mobile phones are available to rent, which offer better rates than roaming fees.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in Papeete and Moorea.

Media


Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes around six to eight days.

Post office hours: (central office in Papeete) Mon-Fri 0700-1800, Sat-Sun 0800-1100 (outside Papeete, there is a restricted service in the afternoons and at weekends).

Press
• There is an English-language weekly, the Tahiti Beach Press.

Radio
• RFO Polynesie is a public radio broadcaster, operated by Reseau France Outre-Mer.
• Private FM stations include Radio 1 and Radio Bleue.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
5 Mar Missionary Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday. 
13 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May Victory Day.
21 May Ascension.
1 Jun Whit Monday.
29 Jun Anniversary of Internal Autonomy.
14 Jul Fall of the Bastille.
15 Aug Assumption.
1 Nov All Saints' Day.
11 Nov Armistice Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
5 Mar Missionary Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday. 
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
8 May Victory Day.
13 May Ascension.
24 May Whit Monday.
29 Jun Anniversary of Internal Autonomy.
14 Jul Fall of the Bastille.
15 Aug* Assumption.
1 Nov* All Saints' Day.
11 Nov Armistice Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

*Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
Tahiti and Her Islands are officially known as ’French Polynesia’ and constitute a French Overseas Territory; addresses of French embassies, consulates and tourist offices may be found in the France section.

Tahiti Tourisme in the UK
c/o Synergy, 48 Westminster Palace Gardens, Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RL, UK
Tel: (020) 7202 6378.
Website: www.tahiti-tourisme.co.uk

south-pacific.travel (South Pacific Tourism Organization) in Fiji
Street address: Level 3, FNPF Place, 343-359 Victoria Parade, Suva, Fiji
Postal address: PO Box 13119, Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 330 4177.
Website: www.south-pacific.travel

Tahiti Tourisme North America in the USA
300 Continental Boulevard, Suite 160, El Segundo, CA 90245, USA
Tel: (310) 414 8484.
Website: www.tahiti-tourisme.com


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