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Abemama island hosts community-based tourism package tour famil

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The island of Abemama hosted a familiarisation tour of its newly launched community-based tourism products from 14 – 17 October 2022.

Led by the Minister for Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan, the group also included the Minister for Ministry of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy (MISE), Honourable Willie Tokataake, New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E Andre Van Der Walt, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Mr. Tim Gill, Kiribati inbound tour operators (Kiribati Holidays and Air Kiribati), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) country rep and senior government officials.

Arriving in Abemama via a chartered flight, the group was accorded a traditional welcome by members of Tabiang village at Abemama airport.

The group’s itinerary was based on the islands 3 days community-based tour packaged that included traditional dance entertainment by Baretoa community, an island tour of cultural shrines and historical sites. Reina community showcased their farm to table and ocean to plate tour which included babai planting demonstration and coconut tree planting.  The island’s women’s group, Ainen wiikin Abemama hosted to a sumptuous lunch feast and the group concluded their activities with a tour in Abatiku islet.

The famil was an opportunity for participants to sample Abemamas’ recently launched community-based tourism product packages and offer insights and feedback through TAK on how the program could be improved to better suit traveller needs.

The activity was supported by the Kiribati LDCF Project I, funded by the Global Environment Funds (GEF) and implemented under the Environment & Conservation Division, MELAD with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

 

Kiritimati Island Trade Show and Quality Day 2022

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The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC) in Kiritimati Island hosted the 2022 Kiritimati Trade show and Quality Day at the Mini stadium in London, Kiritimati on Friday 21st October 2022.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Quality Domestic Trades Strengthen Product Integrity’ and was officially opened by Kiritimati Island Mayor, Mr. Naatua Teiti and was attended by representatives of the public and private sector.

This is an annual gathering of local producers and manufacturers who aim to increase public understanding of their products and services through demonstration, promotion and consumer engagement.

MTCIC used the event to also evaluate the prices and quality of the goods and services against customer expectation and the prescribed standards required for domestic and international trade.

The exhibition booths at the event featured handicraft and traditional clothing and artifact creators, local salt producer, traditional food produced like smoked fish, and outboard motor spare parts operators.

Kiribati signs Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment

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Kiribati’s Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperative (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan affirmed his country’s obligation to sustainable tourism development when he signed the Pacific Leaders Sustainable Tourism Commitment in Tarawa this morning.

This regional commitment by the Pacific Council of Tourism Ministers commits to elevate sustainable tourism as a regional priority for environmental, socio-cultural and economic development. The Council further commits to make tourism in the Pacific a force for good by adopting the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework to put the tourism sector and communities on a path to sustainable recovery by 2030.

In signing this commitment, Hon. Nauan said that “this is a step forward in the right direction for us as we meticulously work to map Kiribati’s tourism development journey based on the core values of resilience and sustainability”. He added that Kiribati is a pristine destination that is deeply rooted in rich cultural values and must ensure that these are preserved through tourism.

Kiribati’s commitment to sustainable tourism development is framed in the country’s Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework developed in 2021. The framework provides the platform for the development of sustainability indicators for the destination in 2022 and its National Sustainable Tourism Policy scheduled for early 2023.

Hon, Nauan will lead his delegation later this month to formally submit its commitment at the Council of Tourism Ministers meeting and Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Tourism Officer completes community-based tourism short course

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Tourism Officer Product Development Ms Kiarake Karuaki participated in the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme short course on “Enhancing sustainability by linking culture, nature and community through tourism”, organised by the Islamic Tourism Centre.

The course is based on Malaysian best practices and approaches on community-based tourism (CBT). It highlights the importance of linking culture, nature, and community as a CBT product, homestay program and rural development, innovative approaches to wildlife tourism and conservation, integrating marine conservation and tourism, empowering local communities through cultural tourism, culture and heritage preservation and restoration through responsible tourism.

The short course has provided Ms. Karuaki with a better insight on CBT development which contribute more to building capacity and experience for tourism product development. Learning about homestay program and how it is encouraged and implemented successfully by the Malaysian local communities was a key highlight of this course.

Key lessons attained during from the course will play an important role on how TAK can encourage and develop the homestay experience with the local island communities engaged in such a niche market.

Ms. Karuaki is playing a crucial role in developing community-based tourism products on the islands of Abemama, Nonouti, Maiana and Butaritari.

COVID-19 safety protocols training in South Tarawa

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted Covid-19 Safety Protocols Training for the Betio Lodge, Mary’s Motel, and Eniita Airport Lodge from 15 – 24 September 2022.

The 2-days per property training was attended by a total of 17 staffs across the 3 properties, most of whom are front-line staff.

The training focuses on health, safety and hygiene in the workplace and participants are certified as ambassadors of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Property General Managers applauded TAK for its support to tourism SMEs to encourage and promote a safe, smart, and sustainable tourism restart in Kiribati.

TAK will continue to work with all accommodation providers to ensure that they are compliant to the basic COVID-19 safety requirements and will provide further support where needed.

TAK conducts Onotoa island survey

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through its Research and Statistics Division visited Onotoa Island to conduct Tourism Outer Island Perception Survey (OIPS) and Tourism Business Inventory Surveys (TBIS). The team from TAK also plotted current and potential tourist attractions on the island and will use these GPS plots produce Onotoa island visitor maps. This is the first time TAK has such activities  on the island.

The OIPS is a survey which measures the local’s perceptions on tourism such as; tourism impacts on their communities, tourism contribution to local economy; and environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism on their island.

The TBIS survey on the other hand is part of the Research and Statistics Division’s annual workplan and this survey aims to update TAK’s national accommodation database to ensure that collected data and information are accurate.

The development of maps that clearly identity tourism attractions on the outer islands will be helpful to travellers who visit the island. This initiative is part of TAK’s activity to develop visitor maps for all islands in the Line and Gilbert group. The TAK team also visited shrines and other historical areas to ensure they are included on the map of Onotoa.

Nonouti island is ready to welcome travellers

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a four-day Tourism Restart Program training to all tourism businesses in Nonouti island from 23 – 28 September 2022.

The trainings included Tourism and Hospitality for the new normal, Tourism Business Fundamental and Revenue Management, delivered by Tourism Officer Training, Ms. Monika Rikita.

The Tourism Business Fundamental covered recommendations for revamping business concepts and services offered through marketing and human resources capacity development programs. The Revenue Management training included best practices for managing revenue effectively as well as revenue forecast.

The COVID-19 safety protocol training highlighted the need for tourism business operators to protect its employees and guests from the threat of the virus through a pre-determined set of safety procedures set by the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS).

A total of eleven (11) participants from different organizations and communities participated in the training. Seven (7) of them were fishing guides, one (1) tour guide, one (1) from Nonouti Island guest house, one (1) from Catholic Parish and one (1) from Abamakoro Islet.

Since border reopening, TAK is encouraging all participants to apply what they have learnt from the training for their guests and employee safety.

 

Nonouti Island community-based tourism product development progresses

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a community-based tourism development mission in Nonouti island from 14 – 29 of September 2022.

TAK is working with Nonouti island communities to deliver this community-based niche tourism products development that highlights the island’s pristine environment, rich culture and traditions, vibrant history and abundant marine resources.

Once completed, these community-based tourism products are envisaged to help the island address food security challenges propelled by the recent changed in climatic conditions.

The two weeks mission included niche tourism package development training, tour product packaging, pricing and product trial with Abamakoro islet and Autukia village communities. The program also gave TAK officials the opportunity to assess the skills of trained fishing guides on the island.

Councillor from Autukia village, Mr Tiikai, stated that the product trial enabled them to understand the core requirements to tourism service delivery and added that “we realise that we have to improve some parts of our package itinerary such as timing”.

This initiative will help guide Nonouti island tourism-based communities to strengthen their business and services by maximizing their revenue, upskill human resource, improve customer service, product packaging, pricing, marketing and promotions.  It also aims to assist participating communities to recognise the need for the whole of island approach toward tourism and other service providers that play an important role in completing the visitor experience.

The training concluded with the product tourism trial on bone fishing and community-based products on traditional culinary experience, marine protected area tour and wildlife tour (bird watching).

The mission was supported by the Food Security Project, commonly known as the LDCF-1 which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP and managed by the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under the MELAD.

Kiritimati tourism operators prepared for safe reopening  

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted the final training on Tourism and Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal to employees of the Sunset Horizon Fishing Lodge in Kiritimati on 21 and 22 September 2022.

This marks a milestone achievement for TAK Kiritmati who have now effectively completed the training for all tourism operators on the island, best known as a world class saltwater fly fishing destination.

A total of two hundreds and twenty-nine (229) tourism employees including, hospitality staff, fishing guides, rental car drivers and boatmen in Kiritimati have completed this training.

Through this training, TAK believes that Kiritimati tourism operators are now better informed and equipped to apply COVID-19 safety measures and protocols to travellers once their international border reopens.

TAK continues schools outreach program 

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) continued its school outreach program in September by a visit to Year nine students in all government and faith-based schools in South Tarawa and Betio from 07 – 22 September 2022.

This annual outreach program aims to provide students with a better understanding of tourism sector, its benefits, in particular its contribution to the Kiribati economy through employment and business opportunities.

TAK’s annual outreach to year 9 students also compliments the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) inclusion of tourism studies in the school’s Kiribati Community Studies class.

Saint Louise teacher Ioane Keebwa commented that “such an outreach program is crucial for students at this level to gain a better understanding of tourism and its potential for Kiribati’.

TAK acknowledges the ongoing support of MoE and to all faith-based schools in endorsing TAK’s tourism outreach.

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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