The island of Abemama hosted a familiarisation tour of its newly launched community-based tourism products from 14 – 17 October 2022.
Led by the Minister for Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan, the group also included the Minister for Ministry of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy (MISE), Honourable Willie Tokataake, New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E Andre Van Der Walt, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Tim Gill, Kiribati inbound tour operators (Kiribati Holidays and Air Kiribati), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) country rep and senior government officials.
Arriving in Abemama via a chartered flight, the group was accorded a traditional welcome by members of Tabiang village at Abemama airport.
The group’s itinerary was based on the islands 3 days community-based tour packaged that included traditional dance entertainment by Baretoa community, an island tour of cultural shrines and historical sites. Reina community showcased their farm to table and ocean to plate tour which included babai planting demonstration and coconut tree planting. The island’s women’s group, Ainen wiikin Abemama hosted to a sumptuous lunch feast and the group concluded their activities with a tour in Abatiku islet.
The famil was an opportunity for participants to sample Abemamas’ recently launched community-based tourism product packages and offer insights and feedback through TAK on how the program could be improved to better suit traveller needs.
The activity was supported by the Kiribati LDCF Project I, funded by the Global Environment Funds (GEF) and implemented under the Environment & Conservation Division, MELAD with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
