Paradise divided: French Polynesia wrestles with lure of mass cruise tourism

Bora Bora, part of French Polynesia, put limits on cruise tourists in an effort to preserve the way of life on the small island in the Pacific ocean. Photograph: Dana Neibert/Getty Images

Bora Bora is close to paradise. The small island is part of French Polynesia and sits in the huge expanse of the south Pacific Ocean. Its central peak juts upwards from green hills and its turquoise lagoon is fringed by overwater bungalows. Beyond a shallow reef, water stretches in every direction.

In recent decades, that splendour has posed a problem. As Bora Bora became one of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations, the tourists who flocked to it in large cruise ships overwhelmed the island. It became so overrun that in 2019, Bora Bora promised to tackle the problem by capping cruise visitor numbers from 2022.