The primary resources of French Polynesia, besides the key industry of tourism, are products of the coconut such as copra which is sun dried coconut meat, and refined coconut oil also known as Monoi which is used as skin care and suntan lotion.

Secondary resources include mother-of-pearl shells, cultured pearls, fishing and aquaculture and vanilla. The development of agriculture and ocean resources is also of increasing importance.

In the last few years Papeete has become a very modern city with new public facilities.. shopping centers, boutiques, restaurants, night clubs and bars, travel agencies and airline offices, art galleries and museums, including the Tahiti Perles Center, a museum featuring the rare and lovely Pinctada Margaritifera, the Tahitian black pearl.

Tahiti offers three auditoriums of contemporary design and equipment, with seating capacity for 208, 463 and 830, used for international or corporate conferences and conventions.

The International Golf Course of Atimaono, located on Tahiti's west coast some 25 miles from Papeete, is one of the most modern and beautiful courses in the South Pacific, and is open to visiting golfers.

Conscious of the needs of the outer islands, local authorities decided to improve the economy of the remote archipelagoes (Marquises, Australs, Tuamotu and Mangareva Islands) by building more airstrips, port facilities and new roads, plus the improvement of public services, including water, electricity and telephone.

New possibilities are continually being created for the development of the natural resources of these remote islands and atolls, whose inhabitants enjoy many modern conveniences.