·       Since the early '90s, the number of tourists from all over the world has increased considerably in the atolls. Since 1992, the airport has been handling the charter flights operated by the company Corsair, which has increased the number of flights running between Paris and Papeete (via Los Angeles) and reduced its prices: the average price of a return ticket between Paris and Papeete, based on the rates charged by all the international airline companies operating in this area, worked out at 253 000 Fr. CFP in 1992, and decreased to 193 000 Fr. CFP in 1996, which amounts to a 24% decrease within a period of only four years. The numbers of French tourists have increased spectacularly (+147%) during this period.

The decrease in the cost of transport has meant that tourists are able to stay for longer periods  on the atolls. The average number of overnight reservations increased by 53%, reaching almost 2 million in 1996.The average length of the hotel bookings increased from 8.5 to 9.1 days during the same period.

During 1996, 163 774 tourists visited French Polynesia, despite the 8.1% decrease which occurred as the result of social unrest and the resumption of nuclear tests in 1995. The great attraction which the Polynesian islands have always exerted was re-confirmed in 1997 and 1998, when the number of tourists increased to180 440 and 188 933, respectively. 

According to the "Institut de la Statistique", the number of tourists showed a further 11.6% increase in 1999 in comparison with 1998. The target figure of 200 000 tourists which had been expected to occur for several years was finally overstepped in1999, when 210 800 tourists were recorded.

•   Where the tourists come from :

From 1995 to 1998, the majority of the visitors to French Polynesia originated from France. During the three-year period in question, the French market provided 52 723 tourists, thus ranking ahead of the American market, although the latter is larger and not so far away. The category consisting of "Other countries" comprises the South-American market, which has been developing steadily since the '90s, since the numbers of tourists from this part of the world increased more than two-fold within six years, numbering 9 165 in 1998. The year 1999 saw a sharp drop, however, especially among the Brazilians and Argentineans, whose numbers decreased by 15.4%.

The 1999 boom was partly due to the increasing popularity of the region with American tourists, whose numbers increased from 50 003 in 1998 to 68 895 in 1999, making a  37.8% increase. This upward trend resulted directly from the increasing number of cruises which were beginning to operate. The number of tourists from France increased during this time by 5.3%, reaching  58 705 in 1999. As in 1998, the number of visitors from Australia and New Zealand has continued to decrease, however, by  approximately 2  to 4% a year.