Tourism Authority Kiribati

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TAK participates in the Regional Tourism Statistic workshop

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Kiribati was represented by TAK at the workshop held in Nadi Fiji, from 10th-13th March with the goal of developing a regional tourism statistics strategy as well as a regional sustainable tourism framework for the Pacific.

The first 2 days of the workshop aimed at validating the findings from a regional assessment of tourism statistical systems and getting feedback from the countries on the recommendations and actions to improve tourism statistical systems at regional and national level.

The assessment was carried out by PARIS21 – a global partnership of statistics experts and policy makers seeking to improve evidence-based decision making in developing countries in collaboration with the Pacific Tourism Organisation. The assessment was carried out in October and November of 2019 and the draft report was presented for validation at the workshop.

The last 2 days of the workshop aimed at obtaining stakeholder feedback on the long-term vision and priorities that will underpin the development of a regional sustainable tourism framework for the Pacific.

The outcomes from the workshops will be endorsed at the SPTO Board of Directors meeting later in the year.

Representatives from 11 SPTO-member National Tourism Organizations and selected National Statistics Offices were present at the workshop along with 6 partners which include PARIS21, the Asian Development Bank, The Pacific Community, the United Nations Development Programme (Pacific Office, Suva), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.

The workshop was jointly funded by PARIS21, SPTO, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and APTC.

Nikunau Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) and Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS)

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in the whole island approach-Integrated Vulnerability Assessment of Nikunau from 24 February – 04 Match 2020. The objective of the mission was to assess the vulnerabilities of the island and to collect IVA data of the impacts of climate change on the island of Nikunau. The program was coordinated by the Climate Change Office under the Office of the President and funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

A total of 6 villages were visited and as well as 2 communities in Nikumanu and 3 communities in Rungata.

The survey questions focused on the ecosystem, infrastructure, finance, human resources and institution or governance; forest health, coastal health, water security, security of place, energy security, income security, community health and food security. All responses were recorded in the fulcrum-based app on tablets supplied by the Office of te Beretitenti.

Whilst in the island, TAK staff officer undertook a Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS) conducted on the island which involved the database update of accommodation providers on Nikunau and  GPS (Global Positioning System) of accommodation, historical sites, churches and other points of interest in the island. The two accommodation providers in the island are the Catholic Parish Guesthouse and the KUC Tabutoa Guesthouse.

All information gathered will be used by TAK to help promote tourism development on the island.

Tourism Awareness Campaign in South Tarawa schools

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Two officers from the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a tourism awareness program to all Primary Schools on South Tarawa and Betio from 16 March 2020.

This is an annual program conducted from TAK’s Training and Development Division and the aim of the program is to educate students about the Tourism Industry and its contribution to the Kiribati economy and the people’s livelihood.

Tourism Awareness Campaign targets class six students only and the program includes a presentation which TAK ensures relates to the context of the children’s syllabus extracted from the Curriculum Development Unit (Ministry of Education).

Eight (s) schools have been visited so far and these include, Aratokotoko Primary School, Bareaumai, Sunrise, Bikenibeu West, War Memorial, Tebwanimwaneka, Abaunamaou, and Taaken Bairiki.

TAK will continue with this program once school resumes in the second term.

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