Taare Rikiai

The Government of Kiribati confirms that following a thorough assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has declared a further extension of its border closure. This new extension will remain in effect until 31 December 2021 unless a new advisory is issued to lift this extension when the situation improves, or other justifying requirements are met. As with previous border closure notices, special approvals can still be obtained for humanitarian flights to transport essential equipment, medical supplies and for the conduct of medevac operations.

Standard Operational Procedures developed to safeguard the public from the potential entry and transmission of COVID-19 will remain in force for all incoming vessels/travelers including a mandatory quarantine of 14 days at the Government-designated facility on South Tarawa. The repatriation of stranded I-Kiribati abroad would also be subjected to the strict assessment of the risks involved and the capability of our current COVID-19 safe measures to manage these underlying risks.

The provision of medical supplies and cargoes will also continue under the established COVID-19 safety procedures and protocols to ensure necessary support is provided to strengthen the national health system and to address people’s needs.

The Government acknowledges that the COVID-19 free status of the country has been possible from the dedicated service of all frontline workers and continues to appeal to the general public and Kiribati’s development partners for their continued cooperation, support and understanding to ensure the necessary arrangements are strictly followed so that risks are managed and the health safety of all is not compromised.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kylie Petersen as its volunteer digital marketing support officer through the Australian Volunteers Program, funded by the Australian Government.

Ms. Peterson is a senior marketing and communications professional within local government working on economic development, city branding and community engagement projects. She is currently employed as an Account Officer with the City of Gold Coast and previously held the positions of Senior City Marketing Officer and Business Gold Coast Marketing Officer for the same organisation.

As the digital marketing support officer, Ms. Petersen will work with the Marketing and Promotions Division of TAK to develop its digital marketing strategy which will be an integral part of the organisation’s tourism recovery and reset strategy.

The Australian Volunteers Program matches a broad range of skilled Australians with partner organisations in the Indo-Pacific region, to support them achieve their own development goals and has a branch located on South Tarawa, Kiribati.

Ms. Petersen commenced in her support role on 05 July 2021 and TAK is grateful to the Australian Volunteers Program for its support and looks forward to a rewarding partnership.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) hosted the newly crowned Miss Kiribati, Teitirake Teanoa, and Mr. Kiribati, Uriam Amoone to a Kiribati Tourism Industry update and morning tea at its head office in Takoronga on Wednesday 28 July 2021.

The duo were winners of the 2021 Kiribati Pageant held on 10 July 2021, which coincided with Kiribati’s 42 National Independence Celebration.

As representatives of Kiribati, TAK took the opportunity to brief Ms. Teanoa and Mr. Amoone on the work of the Tourism Authority and also discussed opportunities for collaboration, in particular, sustainable tourism marketing and promotion.

Miss Kiribati is also passionate about environmental conservation and will work with TAK to advocate for proper waste disposal practices at all levels including communities. Mr. Kiribati on the other hand is an aspiring sign language interpreter and will work with TAK to advocate for tourism awareness to the deaf society in Kiribati and in tourism source markets.

The event was also attended by the organizing committee of the Kiribati pageant and major sponsor of the event, the Shipping Agency of Kiribati (SAOK).

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) today launched the online toolkit for the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal, the country’s COVID-19 safety protocols for tourism and hospitality operators.

Since the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal, TAK has delivered 2-days in person COVID-19 protocol training for South and North Tarawa tourism operators. Similar trainings are planned for operators in Kiritimati and other outlying islands in the Line and Phoenix group.

These trainings have helped tourism operators understand the important role they play in ensuring the safety of their guests and staffs once borders reopen. However, without a definite border reopening date, it is important that tourism operators continue to update themselves on COVID-19 safety protocol. It is for this reason that the online toolkit has been developed to allow for easy access to safety information by tourism operators and to guide them towards becoming COVID-19 safety compliant once Kiribati’s international borders reopen.

In addition to detailed safety procedures, the toolkit also includes printable COVID-19 safety protocol posters and flyers and employee training information. TAK is also developing a COVID-19 destination safety video which will be made available via the toolkit once completed.

The Kiribati Tourism Protocols for the New Normal was developed through consultation with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), World Health Organisation (WHO), relevant government ministries, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (KCCI), tourism operators, and local training institutions and was funded through the Economic Recovery Grant of the US Embassy in Suva, Fiji

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has begun its Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal training for hotel and tourism service operators across the islands.

Developed through consultation with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), World Health Organisation (WHO), relevant government ministries, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (KCCI), tourism operators, and local training institutions, the protocols provide Kiribati tourism and hospitality operators detailed COVID-19 operational safety guidelines.

Whilst there is no definitive schedule on when Kiribati’s international borders will re-open, the protocols are based on possible re-opening scenarios with safety procedures to protect visitors, tourism businesses and the public from COVID-19.

Conducted on the back of the Kiribati’s vaccination program, the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal includes tourism COVID-19 safety protocols for transport, hotel & accommodation, restaurant & bars, employee safety and waste disposal. The Kiribati vaccination program forecasts 20% of the nation’s population to receive their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of August 2021

North & South Tarawa hotels were the first to undergo the 2 days training, and participants are now certified to conduct COVID-19 safety for their respective employees. TAK will deliver the same training for tourism operators in Abaiang and Kiritimati in the coming days whilst training for the rest of the Gilbert and Line islands are scheduled for later in the year.

The program is funded through the Economic Recovery Grant of the US Embassy in Suva, Fiji and is co-managed by TAK and KCCI.

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