Taare Rikiai

The Training and Development Unit within the Tourism Authority of Kiribati conducted a two days visit to all tourism business properties in South Tarawa to carry out the training need assessment for all employees in the tourism industry that was held on the 25^th to 26^th of January 2023.

The main purpose of this visit is to discuss and share the training needs assessment form that TAK already come up with and to take all of their specific needs so that TAK can have them and share them with national institutions for their continued assistance and support.

Six of seven tourist accommodations were part of this visit and these are The George Hotel, Betio Lodge, Fema Lodge, Utirerei Hotel, Eniita Lodge, and Tad’s Guest Homestay. Mary’s motel is the only one that has not yet been visited due to some inconvenience caused regard to the schedule raised by the office.

This is the first time that TAK roll out this activity to sit with hotel employees face to face and to take note of their needs with the hope of extending this to all tourism operators in the outer island.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through its Research and Statistics Division has conducted its survey known as the Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS) from 25^th to 26^th  January 2023 in South Tarawa.

The survey is also part of TAK’s annual work plan to update the accommodation database to ensure data and information that are collected are up to date, which is the overall main purpose of the visit. The collected data and information include the number of rooms and beds, the number of employees, and contact information to name a few.

The survey results will help determine the training needs of the surveyed properties, it will also help accommodation providers to identify areas that need improvements in terms of marketing and product development needs.

The 7 surveyed properties were The George Hotel, Betio Lodge, Marys’ Motel, Fema Lodge, Utirerei Hotel, Eniita Lodge, and Tads Guesthouse.

The next TBIS will be conducted in North Tarawa in February.

The Prime Minister of Fiji, Honourable Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, and his delegation visited Kiribati on Friday, the 20^th of January 2023.   The high-level delegation received the Minister for Education, Hon Alex Teabo, his wife, several Government dignitaries, and the Kiribati Police Service Brass Band which played the Fiji National Anthem. Upon arrival at the Bonriki International Airport, the Honorable Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka inspected the Guard of Honor.

The delegation visited the Eita maneaba, Tokanuean Auriaria IV where they were accorded a traditional Kiribati welcome.   The Prime Minister also paid a courtesy call to Kiribati’s Head of State and President, H.E Taneti Maamau where the two leaders discussed areas of mutual interest for both countries.  His Excellency Taneti Maamau hosted a welcome function and was joined by his Cabinet Ministers at the Office of the Beretitenti in honor of the Prime Minister and his delegation.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations between Fiji and Kiribati and discussed the restoration of unity in the Blue Pacific family.

At the meeting, both Leaders acknowledged the strong kinship shared by Fiji and Kiribati, which has been founded on strong cultural identity, mutual respect, and friendship.  The two leaders reaffirmed the need to collectively work in unity and promote regional cooperation as highlighted in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1979, Fiji and Kiribati have enjoyed close friendly relations as members of the Blue Pacific family.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati recognizes the visit as a great opportunity for Kiribati to elevate its tourism development and marketing initiatives through collaboration.  Fiji is a leading Pacific tourism destination and presents opportunities for capacity-building and marketing partnerships for Kiribati.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati Islands (TAK) has committed to undertaking a monthly community clean-up program with selected communities in South Tarawa. In its first cleanup activity for 2023, TAK led a Betio beach clean-up at the Takoronga Dai Nippon Causeway and around its war relics site on Betio with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry Cooperatives (MTCIC), members of the Nei Mom Uprising and the Betio communities on Saturday 07 January 2023.

The clean-up was undertaken in collaboration with the Betio communities to ensure all its war relics and surroundings are clean.

Whilst plastic waste washing up on Betio’s white sandy beaches continues to be an eyesore, TAK believes that such waste also poses a threat to the marine species and organisms that inhabit our beaches and coastline.

TAK is therefore committed to supporting the ECD, relevant stakeholders, and communities to improve solid waste management practices in Kiribati and ultimately improve international visitor experiences through the clean and pristine natural environment.

A total of 210 bags were used and 195 bags of that total no of available bags were full of plastic waste, were collected from the 1-hour beach clean-up, 75 from the Dai Nippon causeway, 60 from the green beach site, and 60 from read beach 1 and 2. Participants were treated to refreshments compliments of TAK.

TAK’s next clean-up with be on Saturday 04 February 2023.

The Utirerei Hotel in Ambo won the Best Accommodation Hospitality category for South Tarawa at the 2022 Kiribati National Business Awards. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MTCIC) on 06 January 2022 at the National Sports Complex in Betio.

A quaint lodging situated in a quiet location away from the main road, the Utirerei Hotel features well-maintained guest rooms, a restaurant, and a meeting facility.

Pronounced Oosireray, the Utirerei Hotel is a family-owned business established by Mrs. Taam Kaiteie. Her business initially started as a small rental home with 3 rooms, and later expanded its current inventory to 26 rooms and a restaurant.

The win this year is the 6^th for the Utirerei Hotel since the Business Awards was first launched in 2012.

This year’s award selection was based on a survey that measured properties on Mauri Mark grading, CCovid-19 safety protocol compliance, customer/guest feedback, and inquiry response.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through the support of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) is pleased to confirm the appointment of an international and local Technical Assistant (TA) to review and develop the organization’s 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan.

Ms. Jennifer Bartlett is a sustainable tourism and inclusive economic development specialist whose experience spans 30 years and as many countries. She has worked on a wide range of tourism projects in the Pacific Islands during this time, in her capacity as IFC’s Tourism Program Coordinator then Manager for several years, and as a consultant to government, development partners, and private sector clients.

Most recently she has worked for the Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, Sustainable Travel International, Business Link Pacific, Akina Foundation, and Strongim Bisnis on Pacific region-wide studies and technical assistance projects for Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, and Niue.

The local expert, Mr. Tearinaki Tanielu is an international development professional with substantive experience in foreign policy, public policy, and strategic planning working with an extensive network of national, bilateral, and multilateral development organizations. He has held senior management and advisor roles within the Government of Kiribati, the Australian High Commission in Kiribati, and the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He also served as a Consultant to the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica, leading the review of capacity development initiatives for Least Developed Countries and Small Islands Developing States.

Mr. Tanielu’s recent technical assistance projects include the review and development of the Kiribati Foreign Policy 2023, the Kiribati National Disability Policy and Action Plan 2022-2025, and the Voluntary National Report of Kiribati for the Global Mid-Term Review of the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. He is a keen advocate for community development and has co-founded a number of CSOs focused on youth and women empowerment, the promotion of human rights, and the reduction of inequalities in Kiribati.

Through this engagement, Ms. Bartlet and Mr. Tanielu will also review the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives (MTCIC) draft Strategic Plan to ensure that the TAK Strategic Plan is aligned with that of its Ministry.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is pleased to announce that the first Cruise Ship visit to Betio, South Tarawa is scheduled on Saturday 18 February 2023.

The cruise ship MS Amadea is a medium-sized vessel and will be the first of its kind to make a call to Betio with a passengers size of more than 600 passengers and 200 crew.

To prepare for this, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives (MTCIC) through the TAK has established a Tarawa cruise working committee to prepare for a cruise ship visit.

The main role of the Tarawa Cruise Working committee is to facilitate stakeholder cooperation to boost the competitiveness of Betio (Tarawa) as a cruise ship destination and successfully deliver memorable cruise ship visit experiences.

In order to effectively plan and deliver within the short timeframe that any cruise ship is in port, 4 subcommittees have been established to roll out the different tasks.

The Boarder Security subcommittee will manage border clearances including berthing and mooring, border entry, health and biosecurity requirements, and other national cruise ship-related regulations;

The Awareness and Clean-up subcommittee will deal with public awareness about the cruise, and coordinate community and business sector engagement in preparatory and cruise call date

The Visitor Experience subcommittee will be responsible for the facilitation and coordination of the cruise’s shore activities and the delivery of an unforgettable Tarawa cruise call experience to cruise passengers;

The Trade Subcommittee will ensure that sales opportunities on Betio and South Tarawa are maximized.

TAK is excited to work with the different stakeholders to ensure that visitor experience and sale opportunities are maximized when the MS Amadea calls into the Port of Betio on 18 February 2022.