12 Mar 2004

French Polynesian Tetiaroa closed to all tourism

2:27 pm on 12 March 2004

The French Polynesian atoll of Tetiaroa has been closed to tourists after its hotel ceased operations.

The atoll, which is about 50 kilometres from Tahiti, used to belong to the Pomare royal family but has been owned by US actor, Marlon Brando, since the 1960's.

The AFP news agency says the hotel closure came after civil aviation authorities imposed new conditions once they became aware that the atoll's runway was shorter than its officially declared length.