Tourism Authority Kiribati

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Abaiang Tourism Business Inventory Survey

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a Tourism Business Inventory Survey from 10th – 13th December 2020 in Abaiang.

The main purpose of the survey was to collect and update TAK’s database on accommodations available, number of beds, staff training needs, along with the accommodation services, facilities, and contact information for all Abaiang tourism service providers.

The mission also included the cultural site mapping, plotting of historical sites and other sites and locations with the potential to attract visitors. Whilst in Abaiang, the TAK staffs also updated the organisation’s image library with photos of new developments and activities on the island.

New information gathered will help TAK build a stronger destination portfolio for Abaiang for the domestic market and international visitors once travel resumes.

First Grant to Kiritimati Island Outfitters

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Fly Water Travel through Ambleve Bedrock Foundation had allocated first grant of $20,000 for Christmas Island Outfitters in Kiritimati Island. Ambleve Bedrock Foundation, Fly Water Travel had raised more than $15,000 as a relief fund to Christmas Island Outfitters fishing guides affected from COVID 19 travel bans.

Kiritimati Island Head Guide and owner of the Christmas Island Outfitters Mr. Bita Kairaoi confirmed the grant provides for a $200 monthly payment to each recipient. The first payment was made back in April 2020 and to date, more than AUD$10,000 has been paid out to Mr. Kairaoi and his six fishing guides.

Mr Kairaoi said, “we are grateful to the grant which has greatly helped sustain our income during this COVID 19 travel lockdown and we thank Fly Water Travel and Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this generous and kindhearted support in providing this grant.”

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) on Christmas Island has witnessed the adverse impact the COVID 19 travel ban is having on tourism businesses and employees including fishing guides. It joins Christmas Island Outfitters in extending its sincere gratitude to Fly Water Travel and the Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this valuable initiative.

Kiritimati Celebrates World Food Day

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati TAK) in Kiritimati Island participated in World Food Day celebration from 30th November to 04th December 2020. This program was organized by the Agriculture Division of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development (MELAD).

This year’s World Food Day was commemorated through a roadshow awareness program to London, Tabakea and Banana, a cleanathon, and household cleaning and gardening competition. Activities were drawn from World Food Day theme of “Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together, Our Actions are our Future”.

The World Food Day celebrations concluded on 04th December with a fruits and vegetable farming competitions between communities and farmers. Participants were judged on the size and weight of their produce. There was also a gardening competition which was judged based on the beauty, diversity and range, health, planning and designed, and creativity.

The celebration was attended by OIC for MLPID, Lordship Mayor from the Kiritimati Urban Council and his team, Government Head of Divisions, Communities, farmers and staff of the Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agricultural Development.

Kiribati will be First to Welcome the New Year

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Kiribati is preparing to be the first country in the world to welcome the new year.

Situated in the central Pacific, Kiribati is made of 33 Islands grouped into 3 island archipelagos: The Gilbert Islands in the West; the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in the center; and the Line Islands in the East.

The islands straddle along and across the equator at the true heart of the Pacific; where the equator meets the International Date Line. It is the only country in the world situated on all four hemispheres of the globe – northern, southern, eastern, and western.

The Line group in the Eastern part of the country will be the first in the world to welcome the year. It is currently 1 hour ahead of Fiji and New Zealand, 3 hours ahead of the East Coast of Australia and 22 hours ahead of the West Coast of the USA.

To celebrate this, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) will host a live feed via its official Facebook page Visit Kiribati from Kiritimati (Christmas) island on the 1st of January to capture the world’s first sunrise in 2021. The live feed will be active from 6.30am (Kiritimati time).

Kiritimati island is a world class saltwater flats fly fishing destination offering bonefish, triggerfish, giant trevally, and numerous other species.

Kiribati Hosts Virtural Plastic Repurposing Training

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), launched the region’s first Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative Virtual Training on Monday 14 December 2020 at the AMAK Centre in Bikenibeu, Tarawa.

Funded through the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat’s (PIFS) CROP Attachment Programme, the training focuses on plastic repurposing activities that contribute to the conservation and protection of marine ecosystems.

The plastic repurposing training also aims to improve community and stakeholder awareness of the importance of improved plastic waste management by turning plastic waste into a useful resource.

The training is based on an inclusive approach in tourism focused on strengthening community engagement and participation in the tourism industry in programs that sustains incomes generation and improve understanding of community’s role in looking after their environment.

The 30 participants of this training represent a diverse section of the Kiribati community’s including, Women’s Association, Nei Mom Uprising, Disabled community, LGBTQI and local artists.

In his official opening address, the Minister of Communication, Information, Transport and Tourism Development, Honourable Tekeeua Tarati said that, “the Government of Kiribati is committed and will continue to implement measures aimed at boosting tourism sector revenue’. He added that “innovative trainings as such are great examples that has our greatest support to help ensure economic benefits of tourism are realized across all communities in Kiribati”.

At the end of the first day of training, Pacific renowned artist and trainer, Mr. Warwick Marlow, commended the participant’s enthusiasm and passion expressed through their craft designs. From his observations, Mr. Marlow is confident that he will see more of Kiribati’s unique handicraft making skills over the next 4 days.

The training will end with a mini exhibition of all developed crafts on Friday 18 December 2020.

TAK Celebrates International Volunteers Day

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati joined international volunteer organization Australian Volunteers Program (AVP), Volunteer Services Abroad (VSA) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to celebrate International Volunteers Day on Friday 04 December 2020 at the Dreamers Lodge in Ambo, South Tarawa.

Hosted by AVP, the program was attended by selected organizations across Tarawa that have benefited from international volunteer assistance.

In welcoming guests, AVP Regional Director, David Jones, who connected via zoom from the Solomon Islands, acknowledged and thanked beneficiary organizations, their families and the people of Kiribati for their warmth and generosity in always making their volunteers welcome in Kiribati.

COVID-19 has affected the 3 volunteer organizations ability to assign volunteers in-country, however their commitment to extending valuable technical assistance to local organizations remain intact and they look forward to resuming these once borders reopen.

In thanking the event hosts, TAK CEO Petero Manufolau acknowledged that COVID-19 presents a unique opportunity for volunteer organizations to look at ways to embrace the new normal. To this note, he confirmed that TAK is currently in discussion with AVP to engage an offsite volunteer to assist the organization in areas such digital marketing.

The event concluded with beneficiary organizations sharing their experiences and a sumptuous lunch catered from by the Dreamers Lodge.

TAK hosts APTC Micro-Credential Course briefing workshop

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), in partnership with the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) conducted a virtual and one on one briefing workshop for enrolled participants of the APTC online Micro-Credential courses on 03 December 2020 at the Vodafone boardroom in Bairiki.

The workshop assisted students with their online registration, and it was an opportunity for both APTC and TAK to attend to student queries.

An initial focus group of forty (40) individuals were targeted undertake these courses which are fully funded by UNDP with support from the government of Japan. However, an overwhelming total of 169 Ikiribati expressed their interest, all of whom have been enrolled into either one or both the courses – Digital Literacy Essentials and Communication Technologies for Business Success.

Students are given until 31 March 2021 to complete the courses and TAK is committed to working with APTC to ensure that all enrolled students are assisted and aims to achieve a 100% completion rate for Kiribati.

New Resort opens in Buariki, North Tarawa

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is delighted to announce the opening of the NEMAT Resort in BUARIKI, North Tarawa from 01 December 2020.

Management says that the resort is ideal for getaways, gatherings & parties, relaxation, and rejuvenation.

Situated on a stretch of brilliant white sandy beach overlooking the turquoise lagoon, the property features both contemporary & locally designed houses/huts and buias with two Maneaba. For group travel, the resort can accommodate a maximum of 70 guests.

Services include a bar, café, and 24 hours restaurant services whilst the traditional beach umbrella and beach lounges offer the ideal spot for a quiet retreat. Complimentary kayaks, guitars and ukuleles are also available onsite and the beach volleyball court is perfect for team building activities.

Transportation including waauowa & speedboat is also available for pickups from and drop offs to South Tarawa. Bookings can be made by telephone on 73041868 or via email at nematkiribati@gmail.com

TAK Celebrates World Food Day

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in World Food Day Celebration on Nonouti Island on 04 – 18 November 2020. This program was organized by LDCF project in collaboration with its key stakeholders.

World Food Day is celebrated annually and this year, LDCF team commemorated it through community consultation and awareness, with its main purpose of encouraging all locals to conserve, preserve and sustain the use of their land and marine resources, against the impact of climate change.

Whilst in Nonouti, TAK  conducted school awareness program to all primary schools, and a Tourism Business Inventory Survey at the Nonouti Island Council Guest House.

This program was supported by the Kiribati LDCF-1 project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

Abemama Island and Food Security

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 The Tourism Authority of Kiribati team had visited Abemama from the 1st to the 16th of November 2020 for a follow-up on development of eco-tourism products through assisting local communities on ways to enhance food security in the context of global climate change using the tourism sector.

The team conducted consultations with active communities and villages on existing and new eco-tourism products for industry partnership development. Agri-domestic skills supporting traditional culinary practices and experiences have incentivise communities with initiatives within the tourism industry at communities based levels.

Abatiku islet had been declared and recognized as a Marine Protected Area to conserve and safeguard marine resources for the welfare and wellbeing of its inhabitants. Reina and Baretoa villages and other factories Development have passed the trial of partnership in outsourcing skills and knowledge to future visitors and tourists on the preservation of food against the impacts of climate change. An official from Tourism, Ms Kiarake Karuaki stated how these activities have motivated communities in Abemama to be prepared toward challenges of food security as climate change unfolds.

A spokesman, Mr Iotebwa Etuati appreciated more alternatives introduced to them, through the tourism industry as a source of revenue and sustainable development. This trip had offered first hand experiences for participants and targeted communities in generating strategies toward food security.

The trip was funded by the Food Security project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) -Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) through  the United Nations Development Programme, and executed by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.         

 

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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