The French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Fortuna is situated in the South Pacific Ocean, consisting of three main volcanic islands and a number of small islets. Despite being discovered by both the Dutch and British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who became the first European settlers here in 1837.

The 15,000 people who populate these islands are said to be “more reserved than in most Polynesian isles” and they’ve managed to retain much of their cultural identity by keeping outside tourist influences at bay. Of course, it also helps when revenues from French government subsidies can be relied upon to underpin the economy.