Tahiti's tourism industry crashes, hotel occupancy falls to 36 percent
by CARMEN SANCHEZ @ CDNN - CYBER DIVER News Network
PAPEETE, Tahiti (18 Feb 2009) — Plagued by exorbitant rates, airport worker strikes and a series of political corruption scandals, tourist arrivals have dropped sharply and Tahiti's struggling tourism industry is on the verge of collapse.
All 24 of French Polynesia's 24 major international hotels reported declines in occupancy with a combined average of only 36.11 percent for the month of January.
Tahiti's tourism problems became apparent in 2008, when tourism arrivals fell below 200,000 for the first time since 2002.
The total number of tourist arrivals in 2008 was down 10 percent compared to 2007.
The average hotel occupancy rate for 2008 was 56.38 percent and just under 60 percent in 2007.
Tourism officials in Tahiti said the demand for local activity providers also dropped sharply in 2008.
Tahiti's tourism industry is on the verge of collapse
