A picture shows the planned construction site of a tourism complex named "Mahana Beach", with the derelict Sofitel Hotel in the background, on the littoral of Punaauia, 15 km south of Papeete, in French Polynesia, on July 19, 2014. Tahiti intends to invest 2,1 billion euros to develop a gigantic tourism complex comprising hotels, casinos, aquatic parcs, cinemas and luxury shops, according to the Senator-President of French Polynesia Gaston Flosse. AFP PHOTO / GREGORY BOISSY / AFP PHOTO / GREGORY BOISSY Photo: AFP
The French Polynesian government has cast doubt on suggestions that an investor in Abu Dhabi is interested in the multi-billion dollar Mahana Beach project.
The plan to build a vast tourism resort complex in the west of Tahiti was the centre piece of the government's economic revival strategy in 2013.
However, it has since been scaled back and renamed Tahiti Village.
Last week, the former president Gaston Flosse told Tahiti media that he was going to the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of people keen on investing in the Mahana Beach project.
Flosse, who lost the presidency over a corruption conviction in 2014, says his successor Edouard Fritch should drop his ridiculous little projects around the planned resort.
The government's spokesperson Jean-Christophe Bouissou said there had never been any interest from any Arab developer.
He also says there are processes to follow in any tendering bid, warning Flosse against bypassing them and incurring legal problems.