A group of dedicated I-Kiribati students, affiliated with the Aibwea organization at BYU Hawaii recently completed a series of tourism awareness initiatives on Kiritimati Island from August 09 to 23, 2023.
Accompanied by their professor, Jeff Christensen, Director and Head Faculty for Tourism and Hospitality Management, and a local photographer, the students worked in close partnership with the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) and under the guidance of the Ministry of Lines and Phoenix Island Development (MLPID) whilst on Kiritimati.
Hailing from diverse backgrounds, these students all share a common passion for Tourism and support for the Kiribati government’s vision for comprehensive Tourism development across the Line Islands.
The team initiated a robust campaign of tourism awareness where the primary objective was to educate, engage, and empower communities, youths, and high schools on Kiritimati Island about the many advantages of tourism.
11 Kiritimati Island communities, two senior secondary schools and the youth communities of Tabwakea and Ronton benefited from this engagement. This campaign strengthened awareness of tourism, roles crucial in advancing tourism development, and the support from both Aibwea organization and TAK for entrepreneurs interested in ventures related to tourism.
Through this initiative, communities gained a deeper understanding of the rewards offered by tourism-related businesses, and their pivotal role in fostering the growth of the tourism sector on Kiritimati Island. Their enthusiasm to initiate community-based tourism (CBT) ventures was also a well-received by TAK who is also developing CBT across the Gilbert Islands.
The team explored various natural attractions, including bird nesting areas, parks, and pristine beaches. These ventures also served to create promotional and awareness videos that promise to amplify the appeal of Kiritimati Island and boost its tourism industry.
