Tahiti and Monaco Superyacht Clusters Form Alliance

Tahiti Tourisme's Superyacht Cluster and Cluster Yachting Monaco signed a promising partnership on March 5. Composed of yachting industry professionals, both groups met in the prestigious setting of Monaco's Yacht Club to finalise an agreement which will allow them to develop close ties and implement joint operations.

This signing is a remarkable acknowledgement of the destination of Tahiti and its key players. It provides The Islands of Tahiti with new promotion opportunities on a high-yield tourism segment.

Vaihere Lissant, President of Tahiti Tourisme's Superyacht Cluster, also Chief Marketing Officer of Tahiti Tourisme, and Bernard d'Alessandri, President of Cluster Yachting Monaco, made this alliance official.

The Polynesian delegation also included Iotua Lenoir, Vice-President of Tahiti Tourisme's Superyacht Cluster, also Marketing manager at Tahiti Tourisme, and Manoa Rey, Tahiti Tourisme's Superyacht niche coordinator. The ceremony, and the cocktail party that followed, took place in the presence of some fifty guests, representatives of the Principality, members of the different clusters and journalists from the trade press such as Superyacht TV or Boat International.

Representatives of the Principality of Monaco, members of Tahiti Tourisme and Monaco clusters and representative of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association gathered at the Monaco Yacht Club to make their partnerships official.

For French Polynesia, which attracts an increasing number of superyachts, this partnership forges international working relationships to promote The Islands of Tahiti to luxury yachting players and to encourage new superyachts to call in at Tahitian destinations, or even to base themselves here for longer periods.

The two clusters will now be able to organise work seminars to share their experience and, above all, to join forces at international trade events. This Tahiti-Monaco partnership will become a reality as early as next month, with a joint operation at the Singapore Yacht Show, April 11 to 15.

The Cluster Yachting Monaco's know-how and experience with a demanding international clientele will enrich the ideas and actions of both Tahiti Tourisme and the professionals of the Superyacht Cluster, founded in 2018. With the 36th America's Cup taking place in Auckland in 2021, which will attract many superyachts to the South Pacific, The Islands of Tahiti give themselves the means to prevail as a must-visit destination for luxury yachts, thanks to its natural assets as well as its professional services.

This event was also the opportunity for the Cluster Yachting Monaco to finalise another partnership with the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA) of which Tahiti Tourisme is also a member. Christophe Ceard, Vice-President of the Association was there for the occasion, along with other members of the APSA.

About Superyachts in French Polynesia

The development of luxury yachting represents a high economic potential for French Polynesia. Each year, about 50 to 60 superyachts cruise the Polynesian waters. Although this niche market only represents 300 to 400 visitors per year, its economic impact is important, estimated at more than 10,000,000 USD, or about 30,000 USD per visitor. By comparison, an international visitor spends an average of 2,700 USD in French Polynesia.

Photo credits: Courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme.