Tourism in Tahiti is going strong, according to the latest statistics released by the islands’ official destination marketing organization, Tahiti Tourisme. According to the latest report, the islands of Tahiti have seen record breaking arrivals so far this year. In fact, for the first half of 2019, Tahiti has posted its strongest arrival numbers since 2001.
All told, 143,996 travelers visited Tahiti in the first half of 2019, representing a 17.6 percent increase over the same period in 2018. Arrivals from the United States made up the most significant increase, with 43.3 percent of all visitors. In the first six months of 2019, Tahiti welcomed more than 47,625 visitors from the U.S., a year over year increase of 29.1 percent.
In a written statement Kristin Carlson, managing director of Tahiti Tourisme United States, pointed to rising accessibility as a strong factor behind the tourism increase. During 2018, United Airlines and low-cost carrier French bee introduced new nonstop flights to the destination out of San Francisco, and Air Tahiti Nui has also recently upgraded its fleet. Carlson said that new accommodations at a variety of price points, including guesthouses, villas and yacht charters, have made the destination more affordable.
Accommodations have been particularly strong in the sharing economy, according to the report. Vacation rentals were up 45 percent year over year for the first half of 2019, while stays in guesthouses grew 15 percent. Stays in hotels were also up, by 11 percent.
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