The Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO) has released the Kiribati International Visitor Survey (IVS) for the period January to June 2024. The survey offers valuable insights into the profiles, preferences, and satisfaction levels of international visitors, contributing to a better understanding of the Kiribati tourism industry.
Key highlights from the report reveal that most visitors to Kiribati came from Australia (36%), Fiji (17%), and New Zealand (13%). The average visitor was aged between 45 and 54 years, with household incomes ranging from USD65,000 to USD115,000. Business travel was the main purpose for visiting Kiribati, accounting for 40% of the total, while 18% visited for holidays and 11% to see friends or relatives.
Visitors spent an average of 7 nights in Kiribati, with South Tarawa (63%) and North Tarawa (31%) being the most popular destinations. Pre-paid spending by visitors averaged between USD1,000 and USD1,499 per trip, with 41% of this allocated to international flights. On-island spending was largely directed toward accommodation, food and beverage, and domestic travel.
Visitor satisfaction was high, with the friendliness of the I-Kiribati people, airport services, and overall service quality receiving the best ratings. However, the survey also highlighted areas needing improvement, including accommodations, infrastructure, and the cleanliness of the environment. Despite these challenges, a majority of visitors expressed their willingness to return and recommend Kiribati as a travel destination.
The IVS was made possible through the support of the Pacific Tourism Development Initiative (PTDI), led by the SPTO Research Team, with generous funding from the New Zealand Government.
TAK also acknowledges the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), particularly its Immigration Division, for their assistance in providing the visitor email database, enabling the IVS to be distributed through email invitations.
The Kiribati IVS is an ongoing survey, and the next report will be the Kiribati IVS 2024 Report which will cover the months of January – December 2024.
A special thanks to all the visitors who have shared their valuable insights, which have significantly enriched this report.
You may access the report here.
