The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) joined te Beretitenti, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, government and diplomatic dignitaries and community elders at the National Cultural and Senior Citizen Day celebration on 09 July 2021 at the Sports Complex in Betio. The event was part of the 2021 Kiribati independence celebration and was organized by the Cultural and Museum Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). This year’s theme was ‘Sustainable Empowerment to Future Prosperity through our Indigenous Culture and Knowledge’.
The event included a costume show depicting the evolution of Kiribati clothing and attire over the past century. Categories included fisherman wear, a Babai bit farmer wear, casual wear, and dance costumes. This show presented a unique look into the important roles that our senior citizens played as custodians of the Kiribati culture and how they have passed their traditional knowledge and skills down to the present generation.
The event also involved local stakeholders, traditional artisans and related government ministries coming together to showcase their skills and the opportunity to trade their unique crafts and wares.
TAK’s 2019 International Visitor Survey (IVS) identified culture as one of the top 3 attractions for travel to Kiribati. In response to this, the organisation has begun numerous initiatives to help develop cultural and community-based tourism across selected island communities to help ensure that the Kiribati experience continues to be culturally enriching for the avid traveler.
