World Tourism Day

Rethinking Tourism

World Tourism Day will once again be celebrated on 27 September, as it has been every year since 1980. This year’s theme has been chosen by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to focus on the health crisis and its consequences.

Read the press kit

Rethinking Tourism is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day, with the aim of rethinking the sector’s growth in size and importance.

The aim of the day is to make the international community aware of the importance of tourism and the social, cultural, political and economic values that go with it.It is also an opportunity to reflect on the development and deployment of tourism in destinations.

Rethinking tourism

For a more responsible practice

At a time when the sector has begun to make a positive recovery from two years of crisis, it is also benefiting from unprecedented public recognition, travel habits have been turned upside down and tourism is more than ever seen as a means of development. These events give us the opportunity to rethink the way we approach tourism, and to see it as a factor in the development of the communities and regions we visit. However, this development must take place in a reasoned and responsible manner.

The entire sector is benefiting from this dynamic tourism recovery. We can see that travel habits have been turned upside down. With an average length of stay that is longer than before the health crisis (18.6 days compared with 15.8 days in 2019) and shorter booking periods, these trends show that visitors want to take more time and focus on more qualitative and authentic experiences.

These developments confirm a trend towards inclusive and sustainable tourism, which is more respectful of the local population and the host region.

How and where

Celebrating World Tourism Day

This year marks the return of the face-to-face celebration of this day. Tahiti Tourisme, which has been the main organiser of previous editions for several years, will be offering a programme based on the theme of Inclusive & Sustainable Tourism. The day will also be an opportunity to showcase the Tourism Committees.

The Comités du Tourisme work to develop tourism on their island and in their commune in each of the French Polynesian archipelagos. This day will be an opportunity to showcase them through the various activities and initiatives they have put in place for tourists in their respective islands and territories.

The Tourist Boards are growing in importance and some of them act as relays for the destination, complementing Tahiti Tourisme’s missions, particularly in terms of raising awareness, welcoming and informing visitors. In this way, they are helping to roll out the country’s tourism development strategy in the 5 archipelagos.

The programme proposed by the Tourism Committees taking part in the operation is detailed in appendix 1 of the press pack.

Various events

From September 25 to October 1:

Traditional welcome and entertainment at Fare Manihi, the airport and the main ferry terminals (Papeete, Moorea, Raiatea, Bora Bora) by Tahiti Tourisme teams and the Tourism Committees of Teva i Uta, Moorea, the Marquesas Islands and Fakarava.

Tuesday 27 September:

Free admission to cultural venues to promote our heritage:
- James Norman Hall Museum in Tahiti,
- Fare Natura in Moorea
Musical entertainment and distribution of Tahitian tiaras at various tourist sites and points of interest:
- Musical entertainment
- at Fare Manihini in Papeete,
- at the Papeete Market,
- PK 18 beach in Punaauia
Musical entertainment and distribution of Tahitian tiaras at the following sites:
- Pointe Vénus in Mahina ;
- the 3 waterfalls in Tiarei ;
- the trou du souffleur in Tiarei ;
- Jardin de Vaipahi in Papeari.

Tahiti Tourisme will also be celebrating this day on 30 September 2022, the opening day of the 29th Tourism Fair at the Parc Expo de Mamao.

For the occasion, Tahiti Tourisme is inviting the local population (from 26 to 30 September) to share in this celebration on the networks by wearing their best local outfit and posting a photo with the hashtag #JMTauFenua for a chance to win 2 tickets for the next Tere i te Fenua ‘Aihere (which will take place on Saturday 29 October 2022). More information on the Tahiti Tourisme Facebook page .

Game rules available HERE