The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a community-based tourism development mission in Nonouti island from 14 – 29 of September 2022.
TAK is working with Nonouti island communities to deliver this community-based niche tourism products development that highlights the island’s pristine environment, rich culture and traditions, vibrant history and abundant marine resources.
Once completed, these community-based tourism products are envisaged to help the island address food security challenges propelled by the recent changed in climatic conditions.
The two weeks mission included niche tourism package development training, tour product packaging, pricing and product trial with Abamakoro islet and Autukia village communities. The program also gave TAK officials the opportunity to assess the skills of trained fishing guides on the island.
Councillor from Autukia village, Mr Tiikai, stated that the product trial enabled them to understand the core requirements to tourism service delivery and added that “we realise that we have to improve some parts of our package itinerary such as timing”.
This initiative will help guide Nonouti island tourism-based communities to strengthen their business and services by maximizing their revenue, upskill human resource, improve customer service, product packaging, pricing, marketing and promotions. It also aims to assist participating communities to recognise the need for the whole of island approach toward tourism and other service providers that play an important role in completing the visitor experience.
The training concluded with the product tourism trial on bone fishing and community-based products on traditional culinary experience, marine protected area tour and wildlife tour (bird watching).
The mission was supported by the Food Security Project, commonly known as the LDCF-1 which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP and managed by the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under the MELAD.
