The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has just concluded a one-week local stakeholder consultation in Tarawa for the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy & Action Plan.
The consultations provided TAK with the valuable opportunity to present the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework to Government ministries, regional organisations, private sector organisations and local NGOs.
The consultations also provided stakeholders with the opportunity to share their expertise and recommendations on how TAK can best develop a sustainable tourism policy that is doable and measurable.
Mrs Jennifer Bartlett, the International Technical Assistant for this project acknowledged the importance of considering the valuable stakeholder contributions and is optimistic that Kiribati is on the right track to achieving sustainable tourism development by 2036.
TAK Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Project coordinator, Ms Reeti Onorio highlighted the importance this policy will have towards Kiribati achieving the KV20 tourism aspirations of the Government of Kiribati (GoK).
On a national level, TAK is committed to promote sustainable tourism and its potential contribution to stimulating economic development, providing employment, income generation as well as supporting the retention of cultural traditions, sustainable management of national environmental assets and wider contribution towards social–economic benefits.
Kiribati also joined its Pacific Island neighbours when it signed the Pacific Statement of Commitment for Sustainable Tourism in the Pacific in 2022 and it is committed to ensure that tourism also addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).
Deputy CEO Onorio stressed to stakeholders that “tourism is still at its early stages of development in Kiribati and the sustainable tourism policy is our chance to get this right from the beginning”.
TAK envisages to complete and submit the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and Action Plan to Cabinet for endorsement by July 2023.
