A group of 1800 Chinese cruise ship travellers is visiting French Polynesia, as part of an initiative of the Chinese government and the South Pacific Tourism Organisation.
Chinese cruise ship travellers welcomed in Tahiti by French Polynesian government ministers and China's consul Photo: Presidency French Polynesia
French Polynesian government ministers, the Chinese consul and members of the Confucius Institute greeted the visitors at a ceremony in Papeete.
The cruise ship Costa Atlantica has been chartered by the Chinese agency Caissa and is on a 53-day tour of the South Pacific.
Tourism Minister Nicole Bouteau thanked the head of Caissa for choosing Tahiti as a destination.
The expansion of tourism involving the Chinese market has been hampered by the absence of direct flights and France's visa policy.