French Polynesia Travel Guide

French Polynesia — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: South Pacific.
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.
Area: 4,167 sq km (1,609 sq miles).
Time Zone: 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.
Population: 252,000 (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density: 60.5 per sq km.
Capital City: Papeete (Tahiti Island). Population: 26,181 (census 2002).
Government: French Overseas Territory since 1946.
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.
Religion: Approximately 55% Protestant and 34% Catholic.

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.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: . 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 cafés in Papeete and Moorea.

Post

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

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
5 Mar Missionary Day
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
8 May Victory Day
2 Jun Ascension
13 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

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
5 Mar Missionary Day
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
8 May Victory Day
17 May Ascension
28 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
*Date to be confirmed.

Contact Information

Diplomatic Representation

Tahiti and Her Islands are officially known as French Polynesia and constitute a French Overseas Territory. For contact addresses of embassies see our France travel guide.

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