The Pacific nation has organised its first openly gay “rainbow party” for wealthy gay tourists from around the world in a bid to bolster tourism, Tahiti Presse reports.

”I want Tahiti to become a gay-friendly destination”, said party organiser Arnaud Anjou.

”These visitors come from the entire world, from Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, France, Norway and so on. They have a high standard of living”.

Cruises that cater for the market are also scheduled to visit French Polynesia in months to come.

Operators hope it could boost the industry which has suffer a 30 per cent dip in numbers this year, a 13-year low, largely due to the global economic recession.

But homosexual association president Dolores Dogba told the news agency Tahiti was not always accepting of gay culture.

”Religion is still important in Tahiti and the island is small, so in some ways, everybody knows everybody,” she said.

”That's why gays tend to keep a low profile in French Polynesia.”

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