Why is Bora Bora So Famous?

When it comes to luxurious destinations, some names immediately come to mind. Bora Bora is one of them. But how did Bora Bora acquire its fame? What happened during the last century that made this destination so popular for honeymooners? Why is Bora Bora so famous?

Bora Bora is extremely famous for the clearness of its water and its luxurious resorts. It is an island located in French Polynesia in the South Pacific and you can easily find postcards from Bora Bora everywhere in the world. The relaxing landscapes of Bora Bora are what make this place so special.

3 things that make Bora Bora famous

As mentioned just before, Bora Bora is known for the clearness of its water. But it’s not only the clearness of the water of Bora Bora that makes it so famous, it is more largely the landscapes you can enjoy in French Polynesia. Combined with the luxurious resorts and the marketing behind them, it makes Bora Bora a very attractive destination for people who seek relaxing vacations.

1. Postcard landscapes

The first thing that makes Bora Bora famous is its postcard landscapes. As you can see in the next picture, the island has everything to be beautiful: palm trees, great accommodations, clear water, white sand, mountains, and the sun. It is really Heaven on Earth.

2. Luxurious resorts

Bora Bora is also famous for its luxurious resorts. Honeymooners who travel to French Polynesia usually spend a lot of money to make the trip memorable. In Bora Bora, you can find prices around $1,000 for one night, $120 for one meal, and $250 for a massage. Those are much higher prices than in heavenly places like Thailand, Zanzibar, the Philippines, Cambodia, or Malaysia.

3. Bora Bora in movies and ads

Finally, Bora Bora is also famous thanks to its numerous apparitions in movies, ads, and videos on the web. Bora Bora landscapes and resorts are so unique that people want to show them everywhere in the world. This is what happened in Hurricane, Couples Retreat, or Tabu: a Story of the South Seas, which are three movies that were shot in Bora Bora. Travel bloggers also like sharing their experience in French Polynesia. And there are tons of them on YouTube.

Is Bora Bora a famous tourist destination?

It’s not because people know the existence of a place that they will visit it every time. Bora Bora is a very hard place to access. So it’s not because you regularly see video ads showcasing Bora Bora that you will book your tickets. But still, just like the Maldives, Bora Bora looks like a tourist place. So, is Bora Bora a famous tourist destination?

Bora Bora is a famous tourist destination, especially for young couples and honeymooners. The relaxing landscapes of Bora Bora are perfect to enjoy tourist vacations on the beach. But Bora Bora is not really a family destination.

How many tourists visit Bora Bora?

Since Bora Bora is a famous tourist destination, it is now interesting to ask whether it is a crowded destination or not. For that, we first need to know the number of tourists who decide to visit Bora Bora. So, how many tourists visit Bora Bora?

Over the last 10 years, 1,782,000 tourists visited Bora Bora in French Polynesia. This means that around 178,200 tourists visit Bora Bora each year, according to The World Bank, a database about tourism.

And what about the future you may wonder? Well, the numbers just before were calculated between the years 2009 and 2018. During that time, the trend was largely increasing. Almost every year, the number of tourists surpassed the previous one (160,000 tourists in 2009 and 216,300 tourists in 2018).

But it is not the highest peak of tourism! Indeed, back in 2000, 252,200 tourists visited French Polynesia, making it the most crowded year of the millennium. As I write this article, in 2021, the coronavirus pandemic is still very active and reducing travel activity over the world. This means that we may see a dip in the upcoming years.

Since Bora Bora’s activity needs tourism, it is the best time to visit French Polynesia: the island won’t be crowded, and you may have discounts. But after the pandemic, people will want to travel again, and there may be even more tourists in the future.

Is Bora Bora crowded?

Now that you know that around 178,200 tourists visit Bora Bora each year, it is interesting to know whether that will make the place crowded or not. Indeed, visiting the destination of your dream and realizing that it is in fact crowded would probably disappoint you. Is that the case in Bora Bora? Is Bora Bora crowded?

Bora Bora is not really crowded because the local accommodations limit the number of tourists that can visit the island. Indeed, due to the limited number of hotels and resorts, Bora Bora remains relatively uncrowded. But the number of tourists may increase in the future due to the fame of the island.