Major resort planned for Tahiti

PAPEETE – French Polynesia’s tourism minister said that after more than a decade of planning and legal problems, signing a contract for the Mahana Beach Resort is a significant achievement.

The government at the weekend announced that an agreement had been signed with a Chinese consortium to construct the massive US$2 billion complex on Tahiti.

The minister, Jean-Christophe Bouissou, said the project is the largest tourism development in all of France, and will create thousands of jobs for the territory.

He said a final contract for the 70-year agreement will be signed by the end of June, with a provision to secure work for locals.

RNZI reported that Bouissou said: ‘“What will happen is that we are doubling the number of hotel keys here in French Polynesia, and what we know also is that investors are already asking for us to allow them to build other hotels elsewhere in Tahiti and also in the islands like Bora Bora and Moorea.”

Bouissou said the consortium’s involvement should also open French Polynesia to the Chinese market.

“That’s one big point of the MOU, is first of all to hire people from French Polynesia building this complex, building the hotels, but also running these hotels, the restaurants and running all the other parts of the programme.”

Bouissou says the Mahana Beach Resort development will also bring plenty of flow-on effect for the territory’s economy.

The resort’s design will reportedly pay homage to the unique characteristics of the French Polynesian culture, while offering guests an unparalleled tropical retreat.

Hawai ‘i’s leading design firm Group 70 International (G70) was selected as the architect, interior designer and civil engineer on record.

Anticipated to be the largest resort in French Polynesi the 52-hectare Tahiti Mahana Beach Resorts and Spa project will include five international class hotels, a timeshare, condominiums, a marina, an aquatic park, a casino, a convention centre, theatres and luxury retail shops.

According to a press release the design theme, centered on the respected Polynesian voyaging tradition, “has been tastefully incorporated throughout the property with structures based on elements such as navigational charts and canoes.

“The resort’s high-rise centerpiece will feature an iconic sail-shaped façade, and sustainable design elements like a sea water air conditioning system will be incorporated throughout.

The project has a 2021 completion target.

- PNC sources