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Tourism Awareness & Appreciation Program continues in Kiritimati

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its tourism awareness outreach programme for Kiritimati Island Years 6 and 9 students on 03 April 2022.

This initiative is part the TAK’s Training and Development Division’s function to strengthen awareness and nurture appreciation for tourism and its importance amongst our children.

The five (5) schools that participated in this program were Tennessee, Tabwakeauea, Golf Port, Poland Primary School, and Kiritimati junior secondary school.

TAK extended this program through roadshows and in local communities.

Kiritimati is COVID-19 free, and its awareness program is part of TAK’s tourism restart program and preparing the islands for a safe start to tourism when Kiribati’s international borders reopen.

TAK Celebrates World Earth Day 2022

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated World Earth Day, with a beach clean-up at the Betio end of Dai Nippon causeway on Friday 22 April 2022 and joined the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development (MELAD) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) on a beach clean-up campaign at the Kabutikeke on Saturday 23 April 2022.

The theme of World Earth Day 2022 was ‘Invest in our planet’ and activities conducted on the day focused on raising awareness on the vital need to protect Kiribati from pollution and environmental degradation caused my humans.

TAK recognises that a safe and clean environment is important to Kiribati’s vision for a sustainable tourism restart and actively engages and supports initiatives that addresses this vision.

Makin Outer Island Perceptions (OIPS) Survey Report

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has completed its report on the Makin Outer Island Perception Survey (OPIS).

The OIPS is conducted by TAK across all the Gilbert outer islands and in Teraina (Washington Island) and Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) to gauge islander’s perceptions on tourism.

Data for this survey was collected through a series of face-to-face interviews with residents of Makin Island. Questions in the survey include income earned through tourism, participants understanding of the impact of tourism on the islands and their recommendations of how tourism development can benefit them.

This report informs TAK on the gaps in the tourism sector on Makin and identifies pathways for TAK, the Makin Island Council, communities and stakeholders to work together to bridge these gaps and present Makin for what it truly represents both culturally and naturally.

The survey was based on a 10% sample size of the islands population and respondents’ ages ranged from 20-78 years with a gender split of 49% female and 51% male.

TAK will complete the OIPS for remaining islands in this current quarter.

Abemama trials Community Tourism Product

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a final preparatory trial and familiarization of the Abemama Community & Island Tourism package from 19 March to 06 April 2022.

The development of niche tourism products on the island includes a combination of community-based tourism, cultural tourism, marine tourism and agritourism experiences across 4 island communities and supported by local accommodation providers and the Abemama Island Council. This project aims to use tourism as a means for island communities to address food security challenges caused by global warming and climate change.

The 5 days itinerary trial based on a sustainable tourism model on traditional and cultural practices including a traditional culinary experience focused on a farm to table and reef to fork experience concept, Marine Protected Areas tours and community and island guided tours with storytelling.

This familiarization trial will assist communities recognise the need for the whole of island approach toward tourism and other service providers that play an important role to visitor experiences. Mr Willie Itaaka from Reina village stated how the familiarization have given them confident to perform and deliver expected standard community tour experiences.

Active ecotourism communities of Reina, Baretoa, and Ainen Wiikin Abemama were also trained on revenue management areas, tourism business fundamentals, and Covid-19 tourism and hospitality protocols for health safety measurement before the opening of the boarders.

It is with anticipation that this one-week training would guide these communities in improving their business initiatives and services in maximizing and managing their revenue, compliance to the Mauri Mark standards, human resource development initiatives, customer service, market analysis, and marketing and promotions of their tourism products and services.

The training concluded with the installation of a traveller information kiosk at the airstrip terminal on the islands.

The trip 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.

Abemama Ecotourism Communities Prepare for Tourism Restart

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) carried out the Tourism Restart program to Abemama Ecotourism communities as part of the preparation for a safe, secure and sustainable border reopening on the island of Abemama.

The program consists of a week training to active ecotourism communities of Reina, Baretoa community, and Ainen Wiikin Abemama on areas of Revenue management and Tourism business fundamentals. The overall objective of this one-week training is to guide these communities to improve their business initiatives and service offering through understanding of how to maximise and manage their revenue, compliance to Mauri mark standards, human resource development initiatives, customer service, market analysis and marketing and promotions of their tourism products and services.

TAK also had the opportunity to train these communities on the Covid-19 tourism and hospitality protocols to ensure health safety measures are practiced when the border opens.

The training was supported by the Kiribati LDCF-1 Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

TAK Releases Kiribati Tourism Review Report 2021

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released the Kiribati Tourism Review Report 2021.

The report is an annual analysis of the Kiribati tourism sector and aims to equip readers with latest developments in Kiribati tourism over the past 12 months. This is the third report of its kind following the Kiribati Tourism Review 2020 and 2019 reports.

The Kiribati Tourism Review Report 2021 brings together data from various sources of information and TAK wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services; Air Kiribati Limited; Marine Guard; Immigration department; Kiribati Customs and the tourism operators and accommodations that supplied data for the purpose of this report.

The report noted that without international tourism, domestic travel grew in 2021 with inter island travel registering a 43% increase. Domestic air travel however dropped by 35%, mostly due to the fleet limitations with the nation’s domestic carrier, Air Kiribati.

2021 also recorded 43% growth in the number of rooms and  a  47% increase in beds available across Kiribati .

Tourism employment however registered 23% drop for the year.

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the report.

 

 

TAK Welcomes Queen’s Baton

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) yesterday welcomed the 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton at the Takoronga World War ll gun site in Betio, South Tarawa.

As a build up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the games organisers have staged  the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay which will see the Queen’s Baton on an epic journey across all 72 nations of the Commonwealth, including Kiribati. The relay began on 07 October 2021 with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll placing her message to the Commonwealth in the Baton which will be read out at the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony.

TAK is privileged to have been part of this global event and joins the rest of Kiribati and the Pacific in celebrating the hope, solidarity and collaboration fostered by the Queen’s Baton Relay. TAK hopes that such an event will help connect communities across the Pacific as we embrace our unique cultures and share our inspirational stories in what has been a challenging year in travel and tourism.

Receiving the Baton at the Battle of Tarawa WWll site in Betio is also significant for TAK as it is an important part of  Kiribati’s history and the Kiribati visitor experience.

TAK acknowledges the Kiribati National Olympic Committee (KNOC) for including tourism in Kiribati leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay and wishes all athletes and officials the very best at the Birmingham games.

 

 

Kiritimati Island conducts COVID19 Lockdown Drill

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The island of Kiritimati (Christmas) in the Line group conducted a COVID-19 lockdown drill on Thursday 24 February 2022 to test the islander’s readiness should they register a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Kiritimati and its neighbouring inhabited islands of Teraina (Washington) and Tabuaeran (Fanning) island are currently COVID-19 free and had enforced restrictions to domestic inbound travel into the group since COVID-19 broke out in the country’s capital in South Tarawa.

The island is also Kiribati’s leisure tourism hub, renown as a world-class fly-fishing destination and a thriving bird wildlife sanctuary.

The simulation exercise was coordinated by the Kiritimati COVID19 Task Force committee which initiated the mock lockdown based on the scenario that a positive case was confirmed in London Village.

The exercise included a declaration of public emergency on Thursday 24th of February 2022, the activation of the island’s siren for residents to remain indoors and closure of businesses, radio announcement and information dissemination via the island’s COVID-19 Facebook page. The exercise lasted 3 day.

Health and national security officials and representatives from the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development were mobilized to manage the exercise over the 3 days of trial lockdown.

During this time, the local hospital remained opened but with restrictions to visitors, operating hours for all shops were limited and a mandatory public mask mandate throughout the island was activated.

 

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Tourism Officer Tiuti Biribo says “the public and businesses operators we very cooperative and took the exercise seriously”. He added that this allowed for the successful management of Kiritimati’s first every trial run with a confirmed case of COVID-19 community transmission.

The Task force was chaired and led by the Minister of the Line & Phoenix islands, Honourable Mikarite Temari and included Secretary, Mr Natario Kiaiti and representatives from local government agencies, private sector and faith-based organisations.

 

TAK Officers complete Destination Resilience Training 

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Senior Tourism Officer Research & Statistics Mr, Nemani Tebana and Product Development Officer Ms. Kiarake Karuaki participated in the “Enhancing Climate Resilience in Tourism in the Pacific” training from 24 January – 18 February 2022

The 4-weeks online training program was delivered under the Project for Capacity Building on Climate Resilience in the Pacific at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (CBCRP-PCCC) in partnership with the Government of Samoa, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO).

The aims of the training program were to enhance the understanding of risks of climate change impacts on the tourism sector; to enhance the understanding of tangible options and actions of the tourism sector to respond to the impacts of climate change; to present good practices of case studies and projects on resilient and low carbon operation of tourism sector implemented in the Pacific; and to develop skills to prepare logical frameworks to support implementation of recovery plans.

The training has provided the two officers with practical knowledge on the development of logical frameworks related to mitigation and/or adaptation activities for tourism. Mr Tebana and Ms Karuaki will also use their new skills in the development and implementation of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and Strategy 2022 – 2025.

TAK Awards Hotel Mauri Mark Certification

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) began the Mauri Mark Standards assessment of South Tarawa accommodation providers in January 2022.

The Mauri Mark is part of TAK’s Tourism Restart Program and involves the assessment of licensed accommodation providers. The assessment criteria for Kiribati hotels and lodges include business operations, fire safety procedures, health & safety hygiene standards, facilities including in-room facilities, environmental sustainability practices and guest support services.

In its first set of assessment, TAK assessed The George Hotel, Mary’s Motel and Utirerei Hotel in January prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. With the easing of domestic restrictions, TAK has now continued the process by awarding these properties with their Mauri Mark Coconut rating certificates on Friday 25 February and Monday 28 February 2022.

In presenting the certificates, TAK Manager Product Development, Mr. Iataake King says that “this Mauri Mark certification program is an improvement from the original hotel rating system and will serve as a service and sustainability guide for travellers booking accommodation in Kiribati”.

King further stated that hotel operators can display their certificates on site and use the accreditation as a marketing tool. Most importantly, visitors to Kiribati can now have an idea of the quality of services they can expect from hotels when booking accommodation.

TAK will continue accommodation assessment as domestic travel restrictions begin to ease and aims to complete and issue Mauri Mark rating certificates by the end of the first quarter of the year.

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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