Superyacht Australia representatives David Good, CEO and Stephen Joyce, Brisbane 2032 Marine Project Manager, met with Moetai Brotherson, the President of French Polynesia.
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Strengthening Partnerships
Held in Papeete during the Tahiti Australian Superyacht Rendezvous, the meeting strengthened the partnership between Australia and French Polynesia in welcoming the global superyacht fleet to the South Pacific, a region now experiencing record levels of superyacht visitation following five years of coordinated international promotion.
Record Superyacht Visitation Across the South Pacific
Over the past five years, Superyacht Australia has led a unified campaign along with Fiji, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Tahiti to promote the entire South Pacific region to the global superyacht fleet. That sustained effort has yielded measurable results, with visitation now at record levels across the region. The meetings in Papeete served as an opportunity to reflect on this success and to align on strategies for further growth.
Superyacht visitation represents a uniquely ideal model of tourism for remote South Pacific destinations. The relatively small number of guests aboard any single vessel means there is negligible strain on local water, power, sewage, and food supply infrastructure, yet the economic contribution per visitor remains extraordinarily high. For island communities with limited capacity to absorb mass tourism, the superyacht sector offers a compelling, sustainable pathway to meaningful economic participation.
French Polynesia: A Jewel Highlighted on the World Stage
The announcement in June 2026 of plans to establish the world’s largest marine protected area (MPA) in the region has placed French Polynesia in the international spotlight, capturing the attention of yacht owners, captains and charter guests who seek pristine, extraordinary destinations. This global recognition has increased interest in the destination at precisely the moment when access and logistics are improving.
Discussions during the Papeete meeting covered several practical developments that will enhance the experience for superyacht visitors: visa clearance processes for international crew, newly introduced air freight services to remote island destinations enabling provisioning and parts logistics that were previously difficult to arrange, alongside the upcoming launch of direct flights between Sydney and Papeete by Air Tahiti Nui, commencing in December 2026. These improvements reduce the friction traditionally associated with extended South Pacific passages and position French Polynesia as more accessible than ever for the world’s superyacht fleet.
The 2032 Marine Project and the Brisbane Olympics Opportunity
Stephen Joyce outlined the strategic significance of Superyacht Australia’s 2032 Marine Project in the context of the Brisbane Olympic Games. The project is designed to encourage superyacht owners to deploy their vessels to the broader Asia-Pacific and South Pacific region in the lead-up to and during the 2032 Games, creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the entire region to benefit from the increased concentration of high-net-worth visitors.
The project will also enable Pacific nations to identify infrastructure, employment, tourism and economic opportunities and work collaboratively with neighbouring nations Australia and New Zealand, to increase capacity in a sustainable way that benefits the nations for the long term.
“The Brisbane Olympics provides an extraordinary catalyst.” commented Stephen Joyce. “When owners choose to deploy their yachts to this part of the world, every country in the region stands to benefit economically. French Polynesia, with its unrivalled natural beauty and its newly heightened international profile, is extraordinarily well placed to capture that opportunity.”
Expanding the Vision: Asia Pacific at the Monaco Yacht Show
Both parties welcomed this significant evolution in Superyacht Australia’s marketing strategy: a broadening of its campaign focus from the South Pacific to the wider Asia-Pacific region ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show. By engaging with key markets including Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong, the initiative will amplify the collective appeal of the entire region to an expanded international audience of yacht owners and industry decision-makers.
The inclusion of Asian maritime nations strengthens the overall proposition: a vast, diverse, and spectacular cruising grounds, stretching from the archipelagos of Southeast Asia through the remote atolls of the South Pacific, presented as a cohesive, world-class superyacht destination. French Polynesia
benefits directly from this broadened narrative, which frames it as the crown jewel of a journey that can begin far to the north and west.
A Relationship Built Over Two Decades
Underpinning these discussions is a foundation of excellent bilateral cooperation that has been built steadily over many years. Tahiti Tourisme’s local agents have been instrumental in creating the on-the-ground infrastructure that turns superyacht visits into exceptional experiences and that collaboration has grown from strength to strength.
A particularly powerful symbol of that enduring relationship is the Australia Tahiti Rendezvous, the flagship networking event that has run for almost 20 years. This week’s Rendezvous, held concurrently with the Papeete meetings, brought together industry stakeholders, tourism representatives and superyacht professionals from both countries, establishing that the partnership between Australia and French Polynesia is not merely transactional, but deeply rooted in shared commitment, mutual respect and a common vision for the future of superyacht tourism across the Pacific.
Superyacht Australia CEO Comments
David Good, CEO, Superyacht Australia commented: “The South Pacific has never been more ready to welcome the world’s superyachts. Record visitation tells us the message is getting through, but we are only at the beginning. With the Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, with French Polynesia’s marine park shining a light on this extraordinary part of the world, and with our partnership networks stronger than ever, we have every reason to be deeply optimistic about what the next decade will bring for superyacht tourism across the entire region.”
