Q: Vaihere, what does it mean to you to be appointed CEO of Tahiti Tourisme?
A: As a local to The Islands of Tahiti, working with the tourism board over the past 11 years has been very close to heart. I really appreciate the structure of Tahiti Tourisme and the team and am thrilled to have stepped into the role.
As I have now settled a bit in my role over the past six months, I’m excited to look ahead to our exciting plans for 2026.
Q: You mention you’ve been with TT since 2014. What skills and fresh initiatives do you bring to your new role?
A: Besides being from Tahiti, I worked as the CMO for 10 years at Tahiti Tourisme, meaning I have a deep understanding of not only the destination, but also our brand, our people and our long-term vision.
As I have stepped into this new role, my priority is to ensure continuity and stability in delivering our established strategy, with a particular focus on our Sustainable Tourism Plan 2030. (Vaihere, above).
I want to build on the strong foundation we’ve created, strengthening our impact, supporting our team and ensuring that sustainable growth remains at the heart of everything we do.
Q: Tahiti is often seen as an expensive, luxury destination. Will you be doing anything to change that perception?
A: The Islands of Tahiti are often associated with being a beautiful postcard image destination that people put on their bucket lists.
We want to diversify the destination, showing people that experiencing the destination goes so much deeper than the beauty of our islands.
We want people to be informed of the mix of accommodation options – from boutique hotels, vacation rentals, guesthouses run by locals, to the luxury resorts that many dream of, to ensure that they can curate a trip based on their budget.
Above: Nuku Hiva. Picture courtesy Gregoire Le Bacon
We want to tell the story of the locals, our history and our multi-faceted culture, so that people can create meaningful memories from their visits to our islands.
We want people to explore the islands during the off-season, to put less pressure on our local partners and the environment.
While the luxury segment will still be at the heart of what we do, we believe in showcasing what else the destination has to offer in greater depth.
Q: How important is the Australian market to Tahiti Tourisme?
A: Due to the proximity to the islands, with just a short stopover in Auckland followed by a five-hour flight, the Australian market is very important to us. The country is the fifth-largest market after the U.S., France, New Zealand and Canada.
While our bigger markets are important to us, we see the value in diversifying our source markets, which is why we want to enhance our visibility in the Asia-Pacific region.
Our group of Tahitian Specialists in Australia are also incredibly valuable to us, as their deep understanding of the destination ensures they can sell the wide variety of types of holidays available on our islands.
Above: Moorea. Picture courtesy David Kirkland
Q: Connectivity is the lifeblood of tourist destinations like Tahiti. Are you happy with current airline links or will you be pushing for more?
A: I completely agree that connectivity is the lifeblood of tourist destinations like ours. Being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, our connectivity is the backbone of Tahiti’s tourism economy and cultural exchange. Ensuring better access and seamless travel to the islands is key.
We’re working very closely with Air Tahiti Nui (ATN), our national air carrier, operating for the past 25 years and connecting us with direct flights to Los Angeles, Paris, Auckland and Tokyo.
ATN has a codeshare agreement with Qantas Airways for their Auckland flights, making a trip to The Islands of Tahiti a seamless experience for Australians.
Above: Conrad Bora Bora Resort
Connectivity is not just about expanding direct flights, with ATN currently having a fleet of four aircraft, they are also working on strengthening their codeshare agreements and strategic airline alliances.
These partnerships are essential to improving connectivity, diversifying access routes and making Tahiti more reachable from key global markets.
In addition, we have Air NZ operating from Auckland, Air France operating flights from France to Tahiti via USA and before the pandemic, we’ve seen new airlines coming to increase our connectivity to the USA and France (United, Frenchbee).
More recently Hawaiian Airlines announced the increase of its Honolulu-PPT service to twice a week (vs once a week), starting March 2026.
Aircalin will resume direct flights between Papeete and Nouméa from December, enhancing regional Pacific links with Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti connecting two times a week to the Cook Islands.
Q: For those who haven’t been lucky enough to visit, what kind of experience can visitors expect in Tahiti?
A: The Islands of Tahiti consist of 118 islands, all offering an unparalleled experience and a wide range of activities.
If clients are looking for a hiking holiday, multiple islands, such as Tahiti, Moorea and Raiatea, offer trails worth exploring.
Or if they are looking to swim with whales, a trip to Rurutu sometime between July and November is their best option.
For a cultural experience, the Heiva Festival in July and the Marquesas Festival in December this year give visitors a chance to fully immerse themselves in the Tahitian culture and the force of Mana.
Q: Finally, a bit of local knowledge. What are some of your favourite spots within The islands of Tahiti?
A: I grew up on Tahiti, near the Tahiti Iti peninsula, where the famed Teahupoo is located. This part of Tahiti is truly unique as the road literally ends in Teahupoo and in Fenua Aihere located on the opposite side of the peninsula.
The peninsula is perfect for surfers and those who love adventure. If staying in the far end of the peninsula, you have to jump on a boat to get to your accommodation, where you’ll encounter a wild and majestic part of the island.
Where I currently live in Venus Pointe, located on the north side of Tahiti, you’ll find one of the most popular beaches on Tahiti with volcanic black sand located next to a historic lighthouse.
Point Venus has a great ambience with a mix of both tourists and locals, who come here to enjoy the sunset over our sister island Moorea. There are also great local food spots around here.
