The Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) has officially released the results of the Kiribati Community Attitudes Survey (CAS) 2024, a comprehensive study designed to capture the perceptions of residents on tourism’s impacts. The annual survey, conducted from July to August 2024, aimed to understand how communities in Kiribati experience tourism and their views on better preparing for its future impacts.
Responses were gathered via both paper-based and online survey links across South Tarawa, Kiritimati, and Nonouti Island, yielding 271 valid responses from the 293 received. 98% of participants were I-Kiribati, with 67% having never lived overseas, reflecting a strong local perspective. The majority of responses (92%) came from the Gilbert Islands group, primarily from South Tarawa, while Kiritimati recorded the most responses in the Line group with 8%.
The findings highlighted strong support for tourism, with 100% of respondents from five islands with the most responses, excluding South Tarawa (92%), agreeing that tourism benefits Kiribati. However, concerns were raised about island cleanliness and limited accommodation availability, particularly from those who believed fewer tourists would be more manageable. There were also significantly different opinions between the genders, with more men (90%) than women (78%) supporting an increase in tourist numbers.
TAK would like to acknowledge the support from SPTO for analyzing the report, and the assistance from the Ministry of Culture and Internal Affairs (MCIA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC). Special thanks are also given to the New Zealand Government for its ongoing support of tourism development efforts in the region.
The survey culminated in a prize draw held during World Tourism Day on 27 September 2024, offering participants a chance to win a prize as part of the event’s celebration.
TAK would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the residents who participated in the survey. Your valuable input has played a crucial role in shaping the future of tourism in Kiribati.
You may access the report here.
