Tourism Authority Kiribati

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TAK Presents Sustainable Tourism Initiatives at Blue Economies Workshop.

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The Acting CEO of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati Ms. Reeti Onorio had the opportunity to present on Sustainable Tourism as part of the International Workshop on Sustainable Blue Economies in Pacific Islands and Territories. The Workshop was held at a Convention Hall of the Hyatt Regency Guam from 20 – 21 March 2024 and was followed by a field visit on 22 March 2024 which was attended by participants representing various sectors from the Southern and Northern Pacific region as well as Forum Secretariat’s CROP agencies.

The sustainable blue economies encompass a wide range of sectors including not only fisheries, aquaculture, and marine conservation, but also marine pollution control, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, blue financing, leadership, and human resource development. The invited participants had the opportunity to share updates from their respective sectors on these themes and their latest progress and assessment concerning sustainable blue economies in the Pacific.

TAK had the privilege of sharing Kiribati’s actions on its recently launched Sustainable Tourism policy and Action Plan providing examples of sustainable tourism activities in line with marine ecosystem conservation such as flyfishing in Kiritimati Christmas Island and Community Based Tourism in line with Marine Protected Areas in the Kiribati outer islands.

The Workshop was hosted by the Centre for Island Sustainability, University of Guam (CIS-UoG) and co-organized by the CIS-UoG and the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) with the support of the Centre for Pacific Islands Studies of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and the East-West Centre.

The outcome of the Workshop will be shared appropriately at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in May 2024 whilst its 2nd preparatory committee meeting is to be held in April 2024 along with other relevant international meetings.

TAK participates in Coastal Fisheries Summit in Kiritimati 2024

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati participated in a 3-day Coastal Fisheries Summit from the 26th to the 28th of March, held at the KPF conference room in Kiritimati Island, with the theme, ‘collaborative efforts to move from words into actions in achieving sustainable fishery for all I-Kiribati.’

The summit was sponsored and funded by the Tobwaan Waara Project – New Zealand High Commission to Kiribati and the Pacific Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) Kiribati Project – World Bank Project. Attendees of the Summit included mayors, clerks, fisheries officials from Kiritimati, Tabuaeran, and Teraina, along with marine-related business operators and relevant government agencies such as the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) based in Kiritimati Island.

The Summit also provided opportunities for tourism-related issues to be presented and discussed. The issues included the crowded flat, chumming of giant trevallies, and Paris marine protected area. Christmas Island Outfitters, a fly-fishing tour operation, voiced out concerns and matters affecting the fly-fishing business in Kiritimati. TAK presented on the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and the overview of tourism in the Line & Phoenix islands.

The Summit ended with a draft ‘way forward’ or work plan drawn by the participants as an outcome of this important 3-day collaborative Summit.”

Tourism Business Inventory Survey and Mauri Mark Assessment on Fanning Island

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted the Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS) and a Mauri Mark Assessment on Fanning Island from the 1st to the 4th of March 2024.
The main purpose of the TBIS is to update TAK’s database of tourism operators, which includes contact details, services offered, available facilities, number of rooms, number of employees, and more.
The survey and assessment accounted only three (3) accommodation establishments on the island, namely: Ala Belle Etoite Guesthouse, Biritita Guesthouse, and Santo Kabiriera Guesthouse.

The Mauri Mark involves the assessment of licensed accommodation providers and assesses that they meet all the required accommodation assessment criteria which include having business operation license, fire safety procedures, health and safety hygiene standards, facilities including in-room facilities, environmental sustainability practices, and guest support services.

The TAK team to Fanning Island was also accompanied by a master fishing guide from Kiritimati who assisted TAK team in conducting GPS mapping on more than 10 fishing flats on Fanning Island.

As a tourist-targeted destination next to Kiritimati Island, well known for its surf and fly-fishing grounds, Fanning has had the opportunity to recommence its domestic flights out of Kiritimati Island hence these activities by the TAK office will allow the opportunity for the island to be prepared to welcome its first international guests again.

TAK Participates in Start & Improve Your Business Training of Trainers (TOT) Workshop.

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati participated in an 8 days Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop in ‘Start & Improve Your Business’ (SIYB) held at the Marine Training Centre in Betio from 5th to 14th March 2024.

The SIYB TOT was organized by International Labour Organization (ILO) for Pacific Island Countries in collaboration with the Kiribati Government and funded by the SDG fund through the Join UN Programme on “Accelerating SDG achievement through digital transformation to strengthen community resilience in Micronesia’.
A collaboration organized to address the issue of unemployment and poverty for both rural and urban areas, allowing SIYB trainers to gain acquired knowledge and skills and be able to deliver quality business trainings and sustainable programs.

The Training will also assist the Kiribati government to strengthen and revive its entrepreneurs and cooperatives as key business players to improve economic activities, create jobs, assist in delivering basic services and generate income for communities including women and unemployed youths in the urban and rural areas.
The SIYB workshop focused on six learning components; GYB (Generate Your Business Ideas), SYB (Start Your Business), IYB (Improve Your Business), EYB (Expand Your Business), DYB (Digitalising Your Business) and GYB (Greening Your Business).

A total of 18 participants participated in the TOT training comprised mainly of representatives from the Kiribati Champer of Commerce, Central Pacific Producer Limited, Angirin Enterprises, Development Bank of Kiribati, Kiribati Institute of Technology, Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resources Development, Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport and Cooperatives and Social Affairs, Te Toa Matoa (People with Disabilities), Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry Cooperatives and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati.

TAK staff stress the importance of the training and how it will boost their capacity in this area, allowing them to extend this training to existing and established tourism operators, community-based tourism businesses, as well as to anyone who might have insight into creating and establishing a sustainable tourism business in the future.

Women in Kiritimati Island receive Basic Training in Hospitality

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Women on Kiritimati Island were provided with invaluable Basic Training in Hospitality, a program orchestrated by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati to commemorate International Women’s Day. Held on March 27th, 2023, at the MLPID’s Boardroom at London Village, the session welcomed all women eager to expand their expertise in hospitality services, drawing in a total of 10 enthusiastic participants.

The training workshop was very engaging with interactive group discussions and hands-on exercises covering essential facets of housekeeping and customer service, the training equipped attendees with a comprehensive understanding of creating an inviting and secure environment for guests.

The participants were practically taught techniques ranging from room preparation including cleaning, maintaining, organizing, and preparing rooms for guests. In addition, they were also educated in customer service interaction such as ways to respond to customer inquiries and complaints professionally and courteously, all vital to the industry’s hospitality success.

The training culminated as a resounding success, offering the women a transformative platform to cultivate their talents and thrive within the tourism hospitality sector on Kiritimati Island.

Rebranding of Destination Kiribati

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati has taken a big step this year to work towards building a new brand for Kiribati to change its current existing brand “Kiribati for Travellers.” The current destination brand was created in 2010 by the Kiribati National Tourism Office now TAK. The branding will be a key priority for TAK and it will work towards providing Kiribati with a new refreshed and exciting brand for the destination.

The purpose behind the rebranding is to ultimately give Kiribati a destination brand that resonates with the Kiribati people and their values, and it is aligned to key policies & strategies such as the Kiribati Vision 20 (KV20), the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy (KSTP) and TAK’s Strategic Plan.

TAK has already begun its first phase of the branding by conducting a series of consultations with local stakeholders (Local Tourism Operators, Government, and NGOs) which were conducted in the capital South Tarawa, and North Tarawa from the 4th to 11th of March whilst consultations on Kiritimati Island were also conducted from the 11th to 13th of March. The consultations were conducted with the expertise of Mr. Carl Solomon from Destination Marketing Store (DMS) who is working with TAK to develop the Market Analysis to build towards creating a Kiribati Branding Strategy.

This Rebranding project is funded through PSDI (Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative) a regional technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the Government of Australia, the Government of New Zealand, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Kiribati Tourism Embracing Advanced Digital Tourism

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati, in partnership with Pacific Trade Invest Australia, organized a one-day workshop on Advanced Digital Tourism on March 6th, 2024, held at the YCL Conference Room in Antebuka. The workshop aimed to enhance tourism businesses’ capabilities in online payment and direct booking solutions, empowering them to effectively tap into the international market by leveraging digital tools.

A total of 19 participants from various sectors attended the workshop, including 9 accommodation providers, 3 inbound tour operators, and 2 travel agencies. Among the notable accommodation providers were Nemat Resort, Mid-land Resort, Tabon Te Keekee Ecolodge, and two newly established accommodations, Lucky Future Lodge, and Southview Mini Resort on North Tarawa Island. In South Tarawa, Betio Lodge, the George Hotel, Fema Lodge, and Eniita Lodge participated. The workshop also saw the attendance of 3 inbound tour operators: Donna’s Tour, Molly’s Tour, and Terau Kiribati Travel.

The workshop comprised two sessions. The morning session included a PowerPoint presentation, focusing on various aspects of online booking and payment process. This was followed by one-on-one sessions in the afternoon, aimed at assisting operators interested in developing their own websites. Mr. Craig Smith, a consultant from PTI Australia, conducted one-on-one sessions with 6 accommodation providers and 1 tour operator, providing personalized guidance.

TAK’s assistance in providing relevant imagery and follow-up with operators is critical to the success of each participant’s capabilities in advancing digital tourism.

TAK Launched Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and Strategic Plan 2024-2026

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) launched its Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy (KSTP) along with the Strategic Plan 2024-2026 during the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry Cooperatives Business Awards held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Sport Complex, Betio.

In presenting the documents, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce, and Tourism Cooperatives, the Honourable Minister Mr. Booti Nauan, shared that the KSTP aims to transform Kiribati into a wealthier, healthier, and more peaceful country that aligns well with relevant global and regional sustainable development frameworks and the Kiribati Government’s 20 year (KV20) Vision.

He added that this was the first-ever Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy, resulting from the collaboration between the Ministry and the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (ADB-PSDI), engaging a multitude of stakeholders within the Government and across local businesses and host communities.

While the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and strategic plan signify an important milestone in our tourism development journey, it also envisions growth that will enable our natural environments to flourish, our socio-cultural values to thrive, and guarantee economic prosperity across our remote islands and communities.

To fulfil these ambitions, it will require a whole of government and whole of nation approach and I look forward to your continued valuable support as we endeavour to transform Kiribati into achieving its high level goals and to minimize the negative impacts of tourism while maximizing its benefits, the Honourable Minister highlighted.

The event was attended by the Kiribati Vice President and Honourable Ministers from Ministry of Education, Ministry of Employment and Human Resources, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Members of the Diplomatic corps, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce, and the business stakeholders.

TAK Conducts Survey at National Trade and Quality Day show

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted an exhibitor survey at the three-day National Trade and Quality Day show, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, and Industry Cooperatives (MTCIC) in Bairiki from 19 to 21 December 2023.

TAK representatives along with four interns from the University of the South Pacific (USP) organised an exhibitor survey where they gained insights into their businesses and products. The survey focused on identifying opportunities where TAK could provide support, particularly in the promotion and marketing of locally crafted items. These included local handicrafts, Mauri wear, local food, and garment items that could serve as unique souvenirs for tourists visiting Kiribati.

Throughout the discussions, TAK encouraged local handicraft makers and other exhibitors to persist in their enterprise. TAK emphasised on the importance of generating innovative ideas to enhance the quality of their products, making them more appealing to travellers.

TAK also reassured exhibitors of its commitment to continue promoting handicrafts through its marketing and promotional channels, including social media platforms like Facebook, travel guides, and the official website.

The survey results will be shared with the MTCIC and other relevant stakeholders who have a vested interest in the production and distribution of authentic and quality traditional artefacts in Kiribati.

TAK Helps Shape Nanikaai Fisheries Plan for Sustainable Tourism

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati’ (TAK) is collaborating with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development’s (MFMRD) Community – Based Fisheries Management Division’s (CBFM) to incorporate tourism in its Coastal Fisheries Management Initiatives.

Through a meeting attended by TAK CEO Petero Manufolau, DCEO Reeti Onorio and Tourism Product Development Officer Kiarake Karuaki, TAK discussed how CBFM could consider introducing community-based tourism elements into its soon to be launched Nanikaai Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan in South Tarawa.

The TAK proposal will essentially see the inclusion of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Tour, a Nanikaai Community Tour, cultural presentation, and local and repurposed handicraft sales to South Tarawa visitors by the Nanikaai community.

TAK believes that whilst such an initiative will help generate additional revenue for the Nanikaai community, it will also contribute to the fulfillment of the destinations sustainable tourism obligations as outlined in the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy (KTSP).

As part of its contribution, TAK will support the Nanikaai community through training and capacity development programs including the product development, pricing strategies, marketing, and tourism business fundamentals training.

The Nanikaai Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan will be launched in late January 2024 and TAK is collaborating with CBFM to include product familiarisation tour for local accommodation providers, tour operators and media partners during the launch.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati is responsible for working with our partners to encourage travelers to come to Kiribati and spend time exploring our country.

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