Greeting
When greeting people, shake their hand, introduce yourself and present a business card, if travelling on business. Polynesians are generally very casual and a relaxed atmosphere usually ensues. No matter what the setting, conversation generally flows very easily.

Dress
Polynesians normally dress informally due to the humidity of the climate. Businessmen and executives are expected to dress conventionally. However, a light cotton suit and tie for men, and a trouser suit (pant suit) or conservative dress for women is preferable to normal business attire. When not conducting business, casual clothes are acceptable in most situations, with the exception of some restaurants and hotel lounges.

Smoking
As with most countries, smoking is the subject of debate in French Polynesia. Tobacco advertising has recently been banned there. Most locations provide some form of rest area, but many of these are designated as non-smoking and some have banned smoking on their premises completely. If you are a smoker, exercise discretion and sensitivity when selecting a place in which to smoke. The best advice would be not to smoke unless others around you do so.

Region-specific details
Bora Bora has two official languages: Tahitian and French. Although English is widely spoken, it may be useful to learn a few phrases and greetings in French. Polynesian French is linguistically similar to the French spoken in France; the difference may be likened to that of British English and American English.

The Polynesian people are generally very religious. The dominant faith is Christianity and this should be borne in mind, especially on Sundays and major religious holidays.