Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated its 2^nd anniversary on 10 June 2021. To commemorate this occasion, TAK management and staffs reflected on the journey that the organisation has taken since opening office in 2019 followed by a cake cutting ceremony at its Takoronga office in Betio, South Tarawa.

Through the support of the Government of Kiribati (GoK) and the Kiribati 20-year Vision (KV20), tourism was recognised for its potential to stimulate economic development, provide employment, income generation as well as support the retention of cultural traditions, sustainable management of natural environmental assets and wider contribution towards socio-economic benefits. This led to the development of the Kiribati Tourism Act 2018, which made way for the establishment of the Tourism Authority in June 2019.

The COVID-19 travel restrictions which came into effect in late March 2020 put a halt to international tourism for Kiribati. This challenged TAK to look at the immediate needs of the local tourism stakeholders in light of the drop in business and to prepare the industry for the resumption of travel post COVID-19.

Since then, TAK launched its Mauri Experience promotion, a campaign targeted at domestic tourism. The organisation also engaged with regional and international stakeholders to deliver a series of capacity building and online training programs for tourism operators.

In late 2020, TAK participated in the Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative program through the Pacific Tourism Organisation. This saw the organisation win the Best Strategy in Creative Tourism Development awards at the 2020 International Creative Tourism Network Awards.

TAK acknowledges that the current international travel restrictions are an opportune time to reevaluate the destination’s strategic direction and a smart and sustainable restart to tourism is high on its priorities. To this effect, the organisation has commenced work on the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework which will form the basis of its proposed National Tourism Recovery program.

The organisation has also completed the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal funded through the US Economic Recovery Grant. The COVID-19 safety protocols are a guide for Kiribati tourism business operators and training will commence from 17 June 2021.

Whilst there is still uncertainty on when international tourism will resume in Kiribati, TAK will continue into its third year of operation with the commitment to using this quiet time to help strengthen capacity throughout the industry. It is also set to establish industry standards based on sustainable tourism values, build new rewarding regional and international partnerships and guide Kiribati to embrace the new normal in tourism as it prepares to welcome back travellers in the future.

The President of the Republic of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau announced on Friday 04 June 2021 the lifting of the 9pm – 6am curfew and the resumption of domestic travel from South Tarawa from Monday 07 June 2021.

In his press statement, the President acknowledged the people for their support, respect, and patience throughout the two-weeks curfew period. He extended his gratitude to the frontline workers and the relevant authorities who work hard tirelessly to help protect Kiribati from COVID-19 and the public for their cooperation in following the standard operating procedures and guidelines.

President Maamau confirmed that Kiribati’s two COVID-19 patients are recovering well in their isolation centre.

While it will be business as usual from Monday 07 June 2021 in South Tarawa, the public is been advised to continuously observe and exercise health guidelines, by continuing hand wash with soap, maintain social distancing, continue the wearing masks and to refrain from social gatherings.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomes the commencement of the Kiribati COVID-19 vaccination program now under way in South Tarawa. Kiribati received its first batch of 24,000 vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility on Tuesday 25 May 2021 and commenced vaccination on Wednesday 26 May 2021.

The vaccines will be prioritized and provided to 20% of the population. These include frontline and essential workers, the vulnerable and older citizens who stand a higher risk to contracting COVID-19.

Local physician, Dr. Tabutoa Eria became the first I-Kiribati to be vaccinated. Upon receiving his jab, Dr. Tabutoa commented “this vaccine is so important as it will protect our communities and prevent further impact of this deadly virus. As health care workers, we are being vaccinated to protect our families and those who are most at risk”.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) have completed the vaccination of all front-line workers in South Tarawa and has begun vaccinating border control and essential service workers in Betio, Bairiki and Bonriki.

TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau has welcomed the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines stating that it is an essential step to protecting the people of Kiribati against the pandemic and to preparing the island nation for international tourism. He added that the Tourism Authority of Kiribati will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to prepare the destination for a smarter and more sustainable restart to tourism once the Government of Kiribati (GoK) opens its borders.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) supports and welcomes the launch of the first Litter Enforcement Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) through its Environment & Conservation Division (ECD) from 01 May 2021 on the islet of Betio, South Tarawa.

With the theme Ikarekebai ibukin Betio Boboto, (Strengthening Community Based Partnership for effective Littering Enforcement on Betio), the campaign is a collaboration between Betio Local communities and Betio community policing to strengthen the enforcement of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, in particular the ‘Littering Provision’,

This campaign is the result of MELAD’s collaborative initiative with Betio Local Communities, facilitated during the 2020 MELAD week dialogue between MELAD-ECD and Betio Local Communities. The collaboration was officiated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aims to address the waste and litter challenges on Betio.

MELAD is also undertaking community consultations with several maneaba and waste and littering awareness roadshows on Betio. This will be followed by a number of scheduled enforcement training to local communities’ security representatives to be facilitated by MELAD with the support of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The trainings will aim to build the capacities of these local community securities and empower them to enforce this Littering provision of the Environment Act on Betio.

MELAD is of the view that this outreach campaign will raise awareness and also prepare the general public on Betio for the upcoming enforcement of the Littering provisions of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, to be led by the Betio Local Communities with the full support of the MELAD Environment Inspectors and the Police officers stationed on Betio.

MELAD encourages the general public, Schools, Government Ministries and State-Owned Enterprises (SoE) to support this initiative.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomed the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) tabling of the Electronic Transactions Bill 2021 for consideration in Parliament by the Honourable Booti Nauan, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC).

Through an official release, the MCIC stated that the Electronic Transactions Bill provides legal recognition and status to the use of electronic communications and signatures. It applies to all types of electronic transactions exchanged among Business, Government and Consumers, subject, in certain cases, to the adoption of implementing regulations”.

In his introductory remarks for the Bill, Honourable Booti Nauan, highlighted that the Bill fulfills the Government’s long-term development plans outlined in the Kiribati 20-Year Vision 2016-2036 (KV20) and the Government’s Manifesto aiming at developing a regulatory environment for electronic transactions and, in particular, enabling electronic communications in commercial dealings.

Honourable Booti Nauan further noted that electronic commerce is particularly important in Kiribati given geographical challenges and the shortage of physical infrastructure. The adoption of the Bill comes at a critical time as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has escalated the use of electronic communications in commercial activities, including in Kiribati.

The Bill is based on UNCITRAL texts. Once the Bill is passed, Kiribati will be one of the first countries in the world, and possibly the first in the Pacific, to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.

The second reading of the Bill is scheduled in the next Parliament session, later this year.