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Tourism Business Inventory Survey in North Tarawa

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Tourism Survey at North Tarawa

Tourism Authority of Kiribati conducted the annual Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS) of accommodations in North Tarawa on Thursday 19 March 2020.

The purpose of the survey was to collect and update information and data on facilities and services available in North Tarawa. The collected data is used to update TAK’s accommodation database which is a key source of accommodation information managed by the Research and Statistics Division.

Information and data collected from TBIS includes number of rooms, beds, staff count, facilities, amenities and activities provided by each property.

Nine (9) properties were surveyed on the day and they included the Ocean View Hotel, Moturerei Legend, Taborio Guesthouse, Eutan Buariki Guesthouse, Tarabuka Hideaway Guesthouse, Uaai Island Getaway, Tabuki Retreat, Santa Faustina Homestay and Tabon Te Keeke.

Surveyed properties range from locally built huts with open Kiakia (local raised house), meeting house (Maneaba) and concrete with local thatched roof.

The survey results showed that some properties had undertaken improvement works by providing more guest activities and upgraded/ renovated their rooms and Kiakia over the last 12 months.

North Tarawa properties are spread across the lagoon side of the atoll and have the comparative advantage of the beautiful lagoon views and its turquoise color and proximity to local communities.

Hospitality Training for Ronton and Tabwakea Village in Kiritimati Island

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Two villages in Kiritimati Island, Ronton and Tabwakea received training on Hospitality Services from the Tourism Authority of Kiribati on the 29th to 31st of January and 19th to 21st of February 2020.

Ronton was the first village to receive the training which was conducted on the 29th to 31st of January with 13 participants attending the training while 29 participants from Tabwakea Village attended the training that was conducted on the 19th to 21st of February 2020.

The main purpose of the training was to provide basic skills and knowledge on hospitality services to those who are interested to work at any tourism and hospitality sectors in the future. Three areas of hospitality services that were carried out during the training which were; customer service, basic front office skills and basic housekeeping skills.

Preparing Kiritimati Island Sea Port for Cruise Vessels

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In preparation for upcoming Cruise Vessels to Kiritimati Island this year, a sounding survey was conducted by the Kiribati Port of Authority, Civil Engineering & Technical Unit, HMMD and Tourism Authority of Kiribati on Friday 14th February 2020 to provide spots or sites that need to be dredged.

The survey resulted from last year cancellation of cruise calls to Kiritimati Island concerning the shallowness of the Ronton Channel which prevented tender boats to cross over to the jetty. Since there is no other channel on Kiritimati for tender boats, the Ronton Channel should be deepened to a required depth of 5 meters.

Part of the preparation involves a cleaning campaign which was conducted at Tabontekee on the same day as the survey. Staffs of the Ministry of Lines and Phoenix Islands Development, Government agencies and some private operators were part of this cleaning campaign which will be conducted every week on Fridays.

Community Tourism Promotion Training in Japan

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The Community Tourism Promotion training was held on the 28th January 2020 and ended on the 12th February 2020, and was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the short-term training was under the JICA knowledge Co-Creation Program for Young Leaders. This short training targeted different participants from different Pacific Island Countries (Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu).

The training was attended by different participants from different Pacific Island Countries mentioned earlier and was also attended by one of the staff at the Tourism Authority of Kiribati. The main purpose of the training is to train Pacific Island Countries Young Leaders on the basic knowledge and skills on Ecotourism, tourism promotion and community involvement in tourism at different regions in Japan. The three visited sites in Japan are Obihiro, Kushiro and Akan region. The training contents contains a very informative information concerning tourism promotion involving local communities, it also covers basic knowledge and skills and other important scenarios concerning Ecotourism and Community Tourism Promotion which can be adopted in the Pacific which can therefore help boost tourism promotion in the Pacific.

The training was conducted first at the JICA center in Obihiro on the 28th January till 1st February 2020, then the training group transferred from Obihiro JICA Center to Kushiro region on the 1st February 2020 till 12th February 2020. On the 5th February the group then visited Akan Lake Resorts for learning more about the Community Tourism Promotion and also to experience the Ice Lake activities.

On the 12th February 2020, a formal completion ceremony was held at the Kushiro City Central Library Hall where participants awarded with the certification of completion. The Completion Ceremony marks the end of the short-term training on the Community Tourism Promotion.

Tourism Authority participates in LDCF retreat for year 2020 costed workplan

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Two staff from TAK (Tourism Authority of Kiribati) were amongst 29 participants from different Government Ministry departments that took part in a weekend retreat held at Abaokoro, North Tarawa from the 13th-15th of December 2019.

The retreat was hosted by the Project Management Unit under the LDCF-I (Least Developed Countries Fund) Project. It is funded by the GEF (Global Environment Facility) Program under the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

The purpose of the retreat was to review and finalise the activities for the 3 project islands, and devise a workplan and budget for the year 2020. It also allowed for the different stakeholders to devise ways in which they can work together on joint mission strategies. The members of the retreat comprised of 9 ministries, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development, Local Government Division, Culture and Museum Division, Environment and Conservation Division, Agriculture and livestock division, Ministry of Commerce and Industrial Cooperatives, Tourism Authority of Kiribati, Kiribati Local Government Association and Kiribati Meteorological Service.

TAK was able to discuss with the various departments regarding collaborative efforts to be able to achieve its objectives of demonstrating a community- based tourism management model. This is planned through development of community based sportfishing and complementary niche products business plan, capacity building and marketing and promotions and ensuring that the islands of Nonouti, Abemama and Maiana are tourism ready.

TOURISM BUSINESS & INVENTORY SURVEY 2020: TBIS for South Tarawa conducted on 14-15 January 2020  

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The Research and Statistics team from TAK met with all accommodation providers on South Tarawa from January 14th – 15th to conduct the annual Tourism Business & Inventory Survey (TBIS). The TBIS collects and updates our database on the number of accommodations available, number of beds, staff training needs, along with the accommodation services, facilities and contact information.

Another key component of the TBIS is updating our images of the various properties so our promotional materials are as updated as possible with the latest pictures and information regarding any upgrades made over the past 12 months by the properties.

Over the coming weeks, the TBIS will be carried out in the outer islands of the Gilbert Group.

The TBIS methodology consists of one on one interviews with a senior hotel staff or the owner and taking photos of the rooms, common areas, facilities and extra features which, the properties feel that need promoting such as solar panels, gardens, non-motorized water activity equipment and others. The survey was conducted only on accommodations that provide housekeeping services as this fall under the definition of a ‘hotel’. Rental homes and apartments without regular housekeeping services were not surveyed.

Furthermore, this year is the first time a Climate Change and Biodiversity component has been added to our survey to gauge how the properties feel they are affected by climate change and also the measures they are taking to mitigate these impacts.

A total of 11 accommodation providers were surveyed on South Tarawa.

Increasing awareness on the sustainable use of land and marine resources for Enhancing food security on all the pilot islands LDCF-I Project.

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Three teams which includes the Tourism Authority of Kiribati visited and conducted a roadshow program at all the pilot islands of LDCF-I project; Maiana Abemama and Nonouti from 25/10/19 – 4/11/19 in commemoration of the World Food Day. The roadshow was organized by the Project management unit within LDCF in collaboration with its Advocacy Working Committee. 3 youth drama groups were engaged in this awareness program.

The purpose of the roadshow is to increase the visibility of the LDCF-I project in its aim to build the resilience of the indigenous people on these islands so their capacity is enhanced to sustain their livelihood against the impacts of climate change. TAK delivered a presentation on the importance of Tourism in Kiribati.

During the roadshow, the benefits were also clarified to the people so they would be motivated to participate and appreciate the project activities. About 4,000 people were watching the roadshow from all the pilot islands including the women, men, youth and people who are living with disabilities.

According to the overall report received from the 3 teams, it shows that the audience did enjoy all the drama shows and that they were also willingly participated in the quiz competition. Such manners show that the audience did understand and absorb the concept shared in the drama show.

The roadshow program in all the pilot islands was supported by the Kiribati LDCF I Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation

Simplified IALA risk assessment workshop.

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A team from the Marine Division of the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development and Secretariat of the Pacific Community conducted a one-day workshop on Simplified IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) Risk Assessment on 28th November 2019, in Kiritimati Island. The workshop was attended by Fisherman Association, Wildlife and Conservation Division, Customs, Marine Guard, CPPL (Central Pacific Producers Ltd.) and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK).

The main purpose of the workshop is to meet with concern stakeholders to assist in providing and assessing possible risks that would contribute to the safety of Navigation in the future.

The outcome of the workshop provides information that are vital for the safety management of our marine. This includes, the renewal of the Navigational/Hydrographic charts, installation of AtoNs (Aids to Navigations) and providing training on the rules of marine navigation.

Installation of new AtoNs at the main channel in London and providing new and updated Navigational charts would support cruise tourism development in Kiritimati and would also provide safety of tourists travelling in the sea for fishing, diving and surfing.

Kiribati Team participating in the World Fly Fishing Championship in Tasmania

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Kiribati was amongst the 23 countries who participated in the World Fly Fishing Championship held in Tasmania from 30th November 2019 till 8th December 2019.

Despite the weather condition which they have never encountered before, they did perform well during the competition.

At the end of the competition, Kiribati finished 19th followed by Japan 20th, Mongolia 21st and Wales 22nd. Individually for the competition, the finishing order for the I-Kiribati team members were Eketi 86th, Beia 87th, TK 89th, Menty 93rd and Taatoa 99th out of 114 fishing.

This was a spectacular effort considering they have never fished for trout before and in such weather condition.

The team returns to Kiritimati on the 11th December 2019

TAK Staff attends Tourism Fellowship, Hawaii 2019

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The East-West Center’s Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP), in cooperation with the Professional Fellows Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, conducts the Pacific Islands Tourism Professional Fellows Program.

Each year this program brings two cohorts of tourism industry professionals from the Pacific Islands to Honolulu, Hawai‘i for intensive six-week programs that build significant new capacity and facilitate enduring professional bonds between industry leaders in the United States and the Pacific Islands.

This year, Senior Officer for Marketing Promotion and Communication in Tarawa Mrs Sarah Teetu Reymond was amongst the 17 tourism professionals from around the Pacific selected to be part of this fellowship program. She was one of the 2 participants selected from Kiribati to attend this fellowship training.

Each participant is required to implement a project based on their individual project plan that was submitted in Hawaii and Mrs. Reymond has chosen the area “Preserving Cultural and Natural Heritage through Destination Marketing, Branding and Sustainable Tourism Practices with an emphasis on small private and community tourism based related business empowerment” to implement as her home-based project.

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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