Country's Full Name: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia/ Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie – Tahiti Island

Brief History: Historians believe about 4000 years ago great migration began from Southeast Asia in the “Polynesian triangle”. The triangle consists Hawaii to the north, New Zealand to the southwest and Easter Islands to the southeast. The natives of these islands commonly speak Maohi language.

Europeans started coming 1521 AD when Magellan spotted Tuamotu Atols. English captain Samuel Wallis named Tahiti as King George III Island in 1767. But French navigator Louis Antoine de Boigainville landed at the opposite and claimed it as French territory. French-British rivalry continued till the local Pomare dynasty rulers accepted French domination in 1847. In 1957 all the islands were renamed as overseas territory of French Polynesia. With spread of uprising against French by the locals greater autonomy was granted in 1998 with their own assembly, budget, laws and President.

Tahiti which is the part of Society Islands (Windward and Leeward) is the largest island in the country. The other island groups are Austral, Bass, Gambier, Marquesas and Tuamotu. All Tahitians hold French citizenship with civil and political rights.

What is the country known for:
Country is more famous among tourists. Newly wed couples prefer their honeymoon in between rocky islands. Spas with tropical ambience, overwater bungalows, crystal-clear blue lagoons all escalate romance to its zenith.

Main Industries:
Tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates.

Main Trading Partners:
France, Japan, U.S., Niger, Thailand, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia (2004).

Major Cities:
Papeete (capital)

Location: Tahiti a part of French Polynesia is in Australia-Oceania continent, South Pacific Ocean. An archipelago it is spread over 118 islands.

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Size:
Total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
Country comparison to the world: 181
Land: 3,660 sq km; Water: 507 sq km

Tahiti area: 403.5 square mile (1045 square km); widest size of this island is 28 miles (45 km).

Time Zone:
UTC/GMT -10 hours

Type of Government:
Unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year term). President of the territorial government and the President of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no term limits).

High Commissioner: Jean Aribaud (1999)
President of French Polynesia: Oscar Temaru (2009)
President of the Territorial Assembly: Eduoard Fritch (2009)

National Holidays:

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
5 Mar Missionary Day.
2 Apr Good Friday.
5 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labour Day.
8 May Victory Day.
13 May Ascension.
24 May Whit Monday.
29 Jun Anniversary of Internal Autonomy.
14 Jul Fall of the Bastille.
15 Aug *Assumption.
1 Nov *All Saints' Day.
11 Nov Armistice Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
*Date to be confirmed.

Population:
287,032 (July 2009 est.)

Religion:
Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%

Language:
French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Local Customs:
Dance is important part in the life of Tahitians which were linked with all aspects of life. We can find beautiful dance with traditional musical instruments like drums, nasal flutes, conch shells.
Tahitians like flowers, which has significance for each occasion.
Tattoo originated from Tahiti which is sign of beauty. In earlier times they were ceremoniously applied when reaching adolescence.

Best Time to go:
May to October is the high tourist season when temperatures are milder with less humidity and rainfall. From November to April you can get resorts at lower rates due to low season.

Currency:
French Pacific Franc (XPF)
1 US Dollar = 87.28000 CFP Franc
1 CFP Franc (XPF) = 0.01146 US Dollar

1 Euro = 119.332 CFP Franc
1 CFP Franc (XPF) = 0.008380 Euro (EUR)

1 British Pound = 143.222 CFP Franc
1 CFP Franc (XPF) = 0.006982 British Pound (GBP)

Customs Regulations:
All items brought in by travelers for their personal use are duty-free, provided they are non-prohibited items and are re-exported out of French Polynesia within six months. These include 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars; 50 grams of perfume; 500 grams of coffee; 100 grams of tea; and two liters of alcohol, champagne, or wine.

No one under 17 years of age is entitled to duty-free tobacco or alcohol.

Tipping:
There is no sales tax. Tipping is not customary; a friendly smile in lieu of service is enough.