Tourism figures released in New Caledonia show that in the first four months of this year there was a drop of just over six percent in arrival numbers over last year.
This follows two consecutive years of minimal growth, with 0.3 percent increases according to local press reports.
The most signficant drop this year has been seen in the New Zealand market, with arrivals down by 46 percent.
The local newspaper says tourist numbers from Japan were down 25 percent last year and a further 12 percent this year.
The downturn is offset by more visitors from France who tend to stay a month, often with family but also adding on stays in hotels.