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Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Covid Protocol Workshop

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) conducted the first consultation workshop for the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocol for the New Normal on Friday 09 October 2020 at the Utirerei Motel.

Funded through the US Embassy of Fiji’s Economic Recovery Project Grant to KCCI, the consultation workshop is part of a wider Reset Strategy which aims to prepare Kiribati for the new normal in tourism.

The consultation workshop brought together representatives from relevant government organisations, experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Kiribati Red Cross Society and tourism business operators from across Tarawa.

A key outcome of the consultation workshop was the compilation of suggested Covid-19 travel safety protocols for accommodation, transport, restaurant, and bar service providers. These suggested protocols will be used to develop the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocol for the New Normal.

TAK and KCCI will undertake a similar consultation workshop in Kiritimati, following which the protocol document will be finalised and tourism operator training conducted before the end of 2020.

Tourism celebrated through National Essay Competition

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati organised a National Essay Competition as part of its 2020 World Tourism Day celebration.

Based on the theme Building Peace; Fostering knowledge, the essay competition invited form 4 students from across Tarawa and Kiritimati to share their views on how tourism can promote peace through culture.

The Tarawa competition was conducted on Friday 11 September 2020 at the Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Kiritimati competition was hosted at KIT. Kiritimati. 5 schools participated in Tarawa and 2 in Kiritimati with a total number 18 students. Each student was given 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete the essay under the strict supervision of Ministry of Education officials.

Ms Stella Henry of King George V & Ellaine Bernacchi School won the competition and earned herself a brand-new Samsung mobile phone compliments of Vodafone Kiribati. Her efforts also earned her school win a brand-new desktop computer set compliments of Tikatai Trading.

Second place went to Ms Werma Tamton from King George V & Ellaine Bernacchi School and Ms Olivera Monojlovic from St Louis High School while the third place went to Ms Tauai Karaimarewe from St Francis College from Kiritimati Island.

A copy of Ms. Stella Henry’s essay can be downloaded from the Resource Centre of TAK’s corporate website.

 

 

 

 

TAK Kiritimati celebrates World Tourism Day

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati office in Kiritimati Island celebrated World Tourism Day for one week from the 21 to 25 September 2020. Part of the one-week program included trainings and awareness programs conducted by Ministry of Commerce & Industry Cooperative (MCIC), Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport & Social Affairs (MWYSSA), and Wildlife.

MCIC & MWYSA conducted trainings on Business Acts and Women empowerment from 21 to 22 September 2020, while a clean-up campaign organized by Wildlife & Conservation Division conducted on 24 September 2020.

Official celebration was held on Friday 25 September at the Millennium maneaba. The program included remarks from Officer in Charge for Line and Phoenix Office Mr. Bwereti Tewareka followed by the award of certificates and reference to the 20 participants of the Business Acts and Women Empowerment trainings and the award for third prize in the National Essay writing competition.

Invited guests included OIC for MLPID, tourism operators and accommodation providers, training participants, participating schools, and markers for essay writing competition, OIC for MHMS, and the WTD committee members.

TAK in Kiritimati Solid Waste management committee

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The Kiritimati Solid Waste management committee which includes TAK conducted their meeting at Wildlife & Conservation Unit office on the 03 September 2020 was chaired by the Senior Environment inspector, Mr Ata Binoka.

The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss proposed work plans and activities for solid waste management. Chair Binoka stated that the Budget for the cleaning campaign program was now ready and stakeholders are requested to prepare their programs and budget related to Solid Waste Management to be compiled and sent to the Solid Waste management project office.

However, TAK’s programs and activities will focus on tourism awareness programs related to solid waste management and sustainable tourism development.

Kiritimati plans for Open Integrated Market (OIM)  

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The establishment of the OIM for local producers on Kiritimati Island is one of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MCIC) project in the 2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan recommended through the Trade Policy Framework (TPF) to enhance and promote domestic trade on the island.

The first preparatory meeting was held at the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development (MLPID) boardroom on Thursday, 21 May 2020 and was attended by 10 representatives from different government offices on the island including the Tourism Authority of Kiribati.

It was agreed at this first meeting that a survey was to be conducted to random household on Kiritimati and as well as village to gauge an understanding on whether or not the establishment of the OIM on Kiritimati is necessary.

The result of the survey was tabled in a special meeting on Thursday 27 August 2020, and indicated that the establishment of the OIM on the island is supported by many, hence the committee will be continue working on the next preparation phase of the project.

Once completed, the project will support local producers and TAK sees the OIM as a great opportunity for widen traveler experiences and increase visitor spending opportunities on the island.

 

 

 

 

Kiritimati World Food Day

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati Kiritimati team attended a World Food Day preparatory meeting conducted by the Agriculture & Livestock Division at the Wildlife office on the 22 September 2020.

The world food day is an annual event that is celebrated on the 16th of October every year and this year theme is based on: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together, Our Actions Are Our Future”.

Competition on home gardening and cleaning competition for all interested households will be part of the World Food Day Celebration as proposed by Mrs. Susana Ratu. World Food Coordinator.

Mrs. Ratu added, that a two days roadshow awareness program should also be carried out and led by the Land and Management division to help bring awareness on World Food Day. Other stakeholders are also invited to prepare a short awareness campaign during the two days.

TAK office supports the events as it is also support sustainable tourism on the island and the office look forward to participate especially in clean-up and roadshow program.

Handicraft training important for tourism

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47 women representing 12 women’s organisations affiliated with Aia Mwaea Ainen Kiribati (AMAK) in Tarawa received traditional Kiribati handicraft training as part of TAK’s 2020 World Tourism Day celebration on Thursday 24 September at the Tenimanraoi Maneaba in Betio.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati recognizes that the unique I-Kiribati culture, heritage, and identity is upheld through traditional and authentic handicraft knowledge which have been passed down over many generations. Culture plays an important role in the Kiribati visitor experience and arts such as handicraft offer travellers an insight into life in Kiribati.

The one-day training workshop introduced the participants to the art of producing traditional shell necklace, shell turtle ornaments, shell jewellery, pandanus necktie and finely crafted shell fruit bowls.

To encourage the continuity and sustainability of their newly acquired skills, TAK will work with these women to supply traditional handicraft at the Bonriki International Airport Handicraft and Visitor Information center.

The training also included presentations from the Head of Biosecurity from the Agriculture and Livestock Division, MELAD and the Director of Trade, MCIC. Their presentations were based on biosecurity criteria as well as the importance of quality and pricing of handicrafts for tourism purposes.

 

First Fishing Guide Training in Maiana

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) facilitated the first ever fishing guide training on Maiana Island from 17 August to 05 September 2020.

Conducted by experienced Kiritimati fishing guide, Mr. Ioran Kaiteie, the training focused on the role of a fishing guides and materials needed to carry out the role. These included techniques at a fishing flat, how to set up fishing gears, how to communicate with anglers, and how to spot bonefish. The program also included  marine resource conservation through a non-consumptive approach to reduce the vulnerability of their marine ecosystem

This training was a preparatory assistance for Maiana’s international fly-fishing market.

 

Maiana Mayor, Mrs Rebite Taakeimoa expressed her gratitude for the training and trusts that the new acquired knowledge and skills will be useful to the island in the future.

The 25 training participants also believe that their training will have economic benefits for their families and communities once international travel resumes.  They are also confident that the activity would support enhancing the resilience and livelihood of communities to lessen overharvesting of bonefish and other game fishing species against the unpredictable effects of climate change.

The program was funded by the ‘LDCF’ project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility-Least Developed Countries Fund and the United Nations Development Programme, and executed through the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.

 

Cultural Rehabilitation in Nonouti

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati teamed up with the Culture Museum Division (CMD) to conduct a cultural rehabilitation program on Nonouti Island from the 25 August to 02 September 2020.

The program included the filming of traditional skills specifically on the preservation of culinary techniques along with traditional fishing skills, the monitoring farming practices of local produce such as breadfruits, pandanus, coconuts to name a few together with monitoring the progress of resilient crop varieties planted during previous visits and consulting the local communities on the beautification and historical cultural sites that could serve as potential tourist attractions.

Additionally, TAK also had the opportunity to raise awareness on the economic, social, and cultural importance of developing a cultural tour package for Nonouti.

The integration of local knowledge and skills with hybrid resilient crop varieties ensure food security by mitigating the impacts of climate change. These practices will also become a tourist attraction to be demonstrated during community tour packages.

Through program, selected communities have expressed their interest in establishing and developing their cultural tour product and package and TAK will assist them through this process.

This activity was supported by the 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.

TAK joins World Food Day Planning and Preparation Committee  

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TAK is part of the World Food Day planning and preparation Committee and working closely together with Agriculture & Livestock Division (ALD) for a better commemoration of the World Food Day for 2020.

The world food day is celebrated on the 16th of October every year and this year theme is based on: “Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together, Our Actions Are Our Future”.

TAK is recognized as a one sector that could contribute positively to the planning of the event due to its heavy reliance on food industry as one of the key factors to the quality experience of the visitor.

Home gardening competition, traditional cuisine cookery competition, food presentation competition using the local materials and organic produces and beauty contest using produces that are organically grown is how the World Food Day will be celebrated in Kiribati especially by key communities who are part of the World Food Day committee.

This year, Kiribati will commemorate the World Food Day on the 28 October and will be led by the Agriculture and Livestock Division under the MELAD.

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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