Taare Rikiai – Page 11 – Kaongora Newsletter

Kiribati participates in South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2023

May 19, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

Kiribati participated in the recent South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE); its first international travel trade show since reopening. Represented by Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Senior Tourism Officer Marketing, Sarah Teetu, and Air Kiribati Head of Commercial, Mr. Flavio Carvalho, the event was held from 12 – 13 May 2023 at the Air Force Museum in Christchurch New Zealand and provided the ideal platform to create awareness on the destination, post COVID-19.

More than 40 travel wholesalers and media partners from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Asia, and Europe along with 60 destination and product representatives from across the Pacific engaged in scheduled one-on-one meetings over the 2 days.

As an emerging travel destination, TAK and Air Kiribati used the opportunity to strengthen awareness of the destination at the event. Market updates included the recent reopening of the world-class-fishing destination Kiritimati and the new Air Kiribati Service between Brisbane, Tarawa, and Kiritimati.

Attending for the first time, Mr. Carvalho commended the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and Maori Tourism for the successful event. The same sentiments were echoed my Ms. Teetu who was delighted to reconnect with travel trade and industry partners again after COVID-19 lockdown.

Digital Transformation Necessary for Tourism Growth

May 17, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The global tourism industry continues to embrace digitalisation. From choosing a destination and planning an itinerary to booking flights and other modes of transportation, as well as hotels, one thing is for certain, digital transformation continues to drive international travel and tourism.

This message was reinforced at the recent Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) Pacific Heads of Marketing workshop at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 11 May 2023.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Senior Officer -Marketing and Promotion, Ms Sarah Teetu was amongst representatives from various Pacific National Tourism Office (NTO) officials who attended the workshop.

Delivered by Digital marketing specialist Mr. Danny Cohanpour of Trove Tourism company, the workshop provided the platform on which participating Pacific Island destinations were able to review and identify ways to strengthen their digital presence.

Areas covered in the workshop also included source market trends, future trends in tourism branding and digital marketing, market segmentation in 2023, developing brand message and mapping brand message into effective digital marketing funnel.

Ms. Teetu expressed her appreciation for this capacity development initiative. Insights and knowledge obtained from the workshop will support TAK as it continues to implement its Digital Marketing Strategy.

Kiribati Tourism Industry Review 2022

May 1, 2023May 1, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

Kiribati’s international border reopening in August 2022 has had a positive impact on employment in the sector, including a 4% increase in recruitment compared to 2021. This is highlighted in the Kiribati Tourism Industry Review 2022 report compiled by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK). This report brings together data from various sources and partner organisations to present a status of the Kiribati’s tourism sector.

The report also captures the gradual increase in international visitor arrivals since border reopening from 01 August 2022. Whilst year on year (YOY) growth has been slow compared to 2019 pre COVID-19 travel statistics, the report indicates the narrowing of YOY international visitor arrivals from Quarter 4 at 23% less than the 2019 Quarter 4 arrivals. The average length of stay (ALOS) for travellers to Kiribati in 2022 was 12.8 nights.

Domestic travel by air increased by 10% whilst maritime passenger numbers dropped by 18%. The report also provides a breakdown of the travel between Tarawa and Kiritimati although Kiritimati was still closed to international arrivals in 2022.

The report also provides a breakdown of tourism employment by gender, most visited outer islands, and yachting statistics for Kiribati.

TAK wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Air Kiribati Limited; the Marine Guard; Immigration department, Kiribati National Statistics Office, Kiribati Customs Office and the tourism operators and accommodations that supplied data for the purpose of this report.

Kiribati’s Kiritimati (Christmas) Island to reopen after 3 years in lockdown.

May 1, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

Kiribati’s Kiritimati (Christmas) Island will welcome its first international travellers in 3 years, 1 month and 13 days when Fiji Airways resumes its weekly scheduled service to this world-class fly-fishing destination on Tuesday 02 May 2023.

Following months of rigorous airport facility and airline compliance checks and clearance by the Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati and Fiji Airways, Kiritimati will welcome travellers through Fiji Airways’ services from Nadi, Fiji and Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomes this development in international access into Kiritimati. Tourism operators on the island have endured hardships for over 3 years since COVID-19 forced the closure of the island’s international border and the reopening is envisaged to be a welcome relief for the mainly privately and community-owned tourism business operators.

Fly fishing enthusiasts who have been patient and have supported Kiritimati Island throughout its 3 years of closure can expect world class experiences when they return to the island’s well preserved fishing flats this week.

Fiji Airways will operate weekly services from Nadi, Fiji and Honolulu, Hawaii and travellers are required to present their vaccination certificate (double vax) upon check in. COVID-19 checks are no longer required upon arrival however persons displaying COVID-19 or flu like symptoms upon arrival are required to visit the local health centre for medical check.

TAK participates in Local2030 Islands Network Community of Practice Meeting

April 28, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati together with the Climate Change Unit from Office of Te Beretitenti were invited to participate in a Local2030 Islands Network of the Data for Climate change resilience Community of practice (CoP) and Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism CoP meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii from 2 to 6th April 2023.

A total of 115 islanders from 33 island economies from across the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian and Atlantic Ocean actively participated in this event. It also marked the first in person annual convening where technical experts, practitioners, and government leaders from national and subnational islands around the globe gathered together since the Local2030 network first established in 2022.

The Deputy CEO, Reeti Onorio had the opportunity to share Kiribati’s unique outer islands community -based tourism experiences as well as learn about other best practices, lessons learned, discuss avenues of technical training and collaboration support, and exchanged knowledge on sustainable tourism and the transition to regenerative tourism models that can strengthen climate resilience. The program allowed the participants to experience community of practice sustainable programs including aquaculture, cultural and conservation sites, and nature reserves at the Kualoa Ranch, Heahea Fishpond and Genki Balls Ala Wai Project.

TAK sees great potential in further engagement into this wonderful network and plans to improve its membership status. The Local 2030 islands network is the first program that attaches tourism with climate change resilience and TAK would like to take advantage of this engagement for the technical support, capacity development to enhance sustainable and regenerative tourism aspirations for Kiribati tourism.

Culture core to the Kiribati Visitor Experience

April 21, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

Goal 2 of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework recognises that tourism must preserve cultural and historical heritage. This commitment reflects the Kiribati tourism sector’s obligation to guaranteeing authentic visitor experiences. It also an acknowledgement of the value travellers place on Kiribati’s unique culture and history as captured in the 2019 Kiribati International Visitor Survey (IVS).

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) commends the work of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) through its Culture & Museum Division (CMD) to preserve, protect and promote Kiribati’s culture and heritage.

In its role as the advocate for Kiribati cultural preservation, the CMD recently conducted a 1-week training program for 25 youths in South Tarawa. Delivered by community cultural trainers at the CMD Maneaba, the program included traditional food preservation, local arts and craft, toddy cutting and Bwabwai farm cultivation.

TAK is encouraged that the sharing of traditional skills and knowledge is reinforced at a community youth level and when practiced, will offer international visitors an experience that is unique to Kiribati alone.

The preservation and showcasing of Kiribati’s cultures and traditions through tourism will remain a priority for TAK and work is currently underway to establish it as a sustainable tourism indicator for the destination.

TAK Hosts Strategic Plan Consultation Workshop

April 14, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) hosted a one-day stakeholder consultation workshop for the development of the organisation’s 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan on Thursday 13 April 2023 at the Marine Training Centre (MTC) in Betio, South Tarawa.

Attended by representatives from Government, State Owned Enterprises (SOE), Tourism Operators and Non-Government Organisations (NGO), the workshop presented TAK the opportunity to share its new set of draft strategic priorities with its stakeholder partners.

The workshop also allowed for valuable input from stakeholders on how TAK can better serve the industry and to be better equipped to support the Government of Kiribati’s KV20 aspirations for increased economic contribution through tourism.

Participants were also introduced to the first draft of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Indicators; a set of tools that will support TAK to measure the destination’s sustainable tourism goals.

TAK’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan development is supported through technical support from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). This project is scheduled to be completed with the strategic plan launch in July 2023.

TAK completes photography project

April 3, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through the support of Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Nauru Airlines and local tourism operators, engaged renown Pacific photographer, David Kirkland on a 1-week photo shoot of Tarawa and Abaiang.

Kirkland last undertook a photography project for Kiribati in 2013 and TAK utilised this recent visit to capture new product developments whilst still focussing on people and culture as the unique selling points for the destination.

TAK is grateful to Nauru Airlines for flying Mr. Kirkland into Tarawa for the project and to the SPTO for funding the photography costs. The project could not have been possible as well without the assistance of local accommodation providers who provided TAK with accommodation and meal support.

Images captured from this project will be featured in TAK’s new marketing collaterals and revamped website.

TAK participates in China Trade & Tourism Mission

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in a China Trade & Tourism Mission led by the Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan from 19 – 27 March 2023.

With the support of the Embassy of China in Tarawa, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau accompanied the high-level trade delegation on bilateral discussions and visits to key tourism sites in Hainan and Guangdong Provinces.

A key highlight of the mission was the visit to China’s premier beach destination, Sanya, located on the southern tip on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

The government in Sanya, Hainan province, has laid out 117 key projects to turn the city into a national leading tourist destination with great international influence, and to promote the high-quality development of local and sustainable tourism.

Through this engagement, the delegation were introduced to concepts of marine, agriculture and culture-based tourism for tropical small island destinations where community remains an integral part of sustainable tourism development.

TAK is in the process of developing Kiribati’s sustainable tourism indicators and its sustainable tourism action plan and experiences from this mission have helped highlight new areas of focus for the destination.

China represents an opportunity for organised group travel to Kiribati. With resumption of travel from mainland China, TAK, through its Memorandum of Understanding with the China Tourism Academy (CTA), will soon begin delivering its China Market Ready programme and capacity development initiatives for local tourism operators.

TAK conducts school tourism awareness program

April 3, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) commenced its Tourism Awareness program to all Year 6 Primary Schools on South Tarawa and Betio from 24th March 2023.

This is TAK’s annual program conducted by staff of the Training and Development Division with the aim of educating students about the Tourism Industry and its contribution to the Kiribati economy and the people’s livelihood.

Now that Tourism is part of Year 6 syllabus, TAK ensures that the program included in the presentation relates to the context of Year 6 syllabus extracted from the Curriculum Development Unit of the Ministry of Education (MoE).

The 7 schools visited includes Aratokotoko Primary School, Bareaumai, Sunrise, Tebontemwaneaba, Bikenibeu West, War Memorial, and Abaunamaou.

TAK is grateful to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for endorsing this program and looks forward reaching out to all primary schools across the country.

Tourism Authority Kiribati