Tourism Authority Kiribati

Kaongora Newsletter

Tourism Awareness Campaign with Grade Nine Students at Junior Secondary Schools on South Tarawa and Betio

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati carried out a school awareness campaign to all Grade 9 levels on South Tarawa and Betio which commenced from mid-September to end of October this year.

The main purpose of this campaign is to explain to students and young ones about the potential of tourism and how it will assist and support their lives in the future and the future economic development of Kiribati.

Three Government Level 9 schools that are JSS TUC 1, JSS TUC 2 and BTC JSS plus four Level 9 Church schools, Santa Maria College, Moroni High School, William Goward Memorial School and St Louis High School that were visited by TAK team.

Tourism Awareness Campaign with Grade 9 Students at Junior Secondary Schools on South Tarawa and Betio

The program carried out annually, not just through school awareness campaign but through roadshows and community visits, aiming to spread awareness on the potential of tourism to everyone.

World record set in Nonouti Island

A new world record was set by one of the anglers Mr. Jan Forzpaniak for catching the biggest bone fish that weights 8lbs.

7 anglers, 5 Australians and 2 Americans arrived on South Tarawa on the 11th of September 2019 to go on a bone fishing trip at Nonouti Island. Mr. Gavin from Tie ‘N’ Fly Outfitters and his wife coordinate this trip with the assistant of the Assistance Tourism Officer Ms. Tikarerei Uriam from Tourism Authority of Kiribati, and 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.

World Record Set in Nonouti Island

The group arrived in Nonouti on 12th September 2019 and were greeted at the airport by staff of Nonouti Island Guest House. On arrival, the groups went on a cultural tour and visited historical sites of Nonouti Island. There were also 7 local fishing guides at the island to assist and guide each of angler. Mr. Gavin  trained two local fishing guides.

The anglers commended the local fishing guide and their hosts for the exceptional hospitality they received in Nonouti.

 

Kiribati team to participate in World Fly Fishing Championship in Tasmania

The Villages Hotel in Kiritimati will participate as “Team Kiribati” at the 39th Fips-Mouche World Fly Fishing Competition from 30 November – 08 December 2019 in Tasmania, Australia.

The team of professional fishing guides from Kiritimati includes Mr Ekeiti Tekaibo (team captain), Atanibeia Taoaba, Taatoa Ioteti, Toanikarawa Tiromaea and Kirimento Aiete

They are scheduled to depart Kiritimati on 13 November and will undertake more preparations and training in Tasmania ahead of the competition date.

Funding for their participation has been possible through the fundraising support of the Village hotel’s management, staffs and their families.

Kiribati team to participate in World Fly Fishing Championship in Tasmania

TAK attends the National Trade Show

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati was fortunate to be part of the National Trade Show held on the 26th -27th September 2019. During the first day of the event, two staff from the Tourism Authority of Kiribati able to meet with the exhibitors to get to know their business and products, discuss on opportunities where TAK could assist on especially in the promotion and marketing of their local made products varies from handicrafts, Mauri wear, local food and garment products that could form part of the unique souvenirs which the tourists could buy as take away gifts or souvenirs from Kiribati.

There were 27 exhibitors altogether which TAK was privileged to meet and build network with. During the discussion, TAK encouraged the local handicraft makers and the rest of the exhibitors to keep continuing what they do, to come up with innovative ideas that could enhance the quality of their local made products to attract the tourists to take them as souvenir upon leaving Kiribati. TAK affirms the exhibitors that it is ready to continue promoting the handicrafts through it different marketing and promotion means such as social media Facebook page, travel guides and website.

Pionair applies for twice weekly flights to Tarawa, Kiribati

Charter airline Pionair Australia has applied to The International Air Services Commission (IASC) to operate twice weekly passenger services from Brisbane to Tarawa, Kiribati via Honiara, Solomon Islands and Nauru.

The airline’s application requests to operate return trips and includes a combined passenger/cargo service to Nauru.

The application is for a 184-seater E190-E2 aircraft or substitute to service these routes.

If successful, these new flights should boost visitor arrivals into Tarawa.

Pionair applies for twice weekly flights to Tarawa Island

Working Committee to look after the maintenance and beautification of WWII relics on Betio, Tarawa.

The WWII relics Working Committee comprising of representatives from various stakeholders of relevant Ministries and organizations via Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Ministry of Information, Communications and Tourism Development, Office of Te Beretitenti, the Betio Town Council and the Red Cross  has recently been set up by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) to look after and manage the maintenance and beautification of all key WWII Relics that can be seen on Betio.

The Working Committee held its first meeting on Friday, 13th September 2019 at the Ministry of Information, Communications and Tourism Development where they discussed and brainstormed ideas on how the current state of these WWII relics can be maintained in order to be more sustainable in future for incoming travelers interested in visiting these historical sites. The committee also had an opportunity as part of the meeting to do the sites visit to get a firsthand experience and observations on the current issues relating to these WWII relics and to come up with ideas and recommendations that would help solve these issues.

Working Committee to look after the maintenance and beautification of WWII relics on Betio, Tarawa

Among the issues discussed at the meeting that was considered a priority was the need to get cabinet’s clarifications on who has the ownership and guardianship of all these WWII relics. Once this has been cleared, the next important step for the committee would be to convene its next meeting and start working on the issues and recommendations as identified following the sites visit for the maintenance and beautification of all these WWII relics.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti – International fly fishing and anglers cultural experience in Nonouti

A week before the arrival of the first group of anglers in Nonouti, TAK official visited Nonouti to prepare the island from the 2nd to the 9th of September.

Part of the fishing package prepared by the Island Council and the TAK is the cultural aspect of Nonouti. Such cultural aspects are the cultural and historical heritage of Nonouti Island which mostly tells a story of the island of Nonouti and the people itself

There are 6 cultural/historical sites including monuments stationed in two villages identified by the tour guide from Nonouti. These are: Te Aake Maneaba, Marenaubon, the shrine of Nei Tewenei, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic and the monuments of the first Catholic missionaries arrived in Kiribati, Nonouti. These are all stationed at Umwantewenei and Taribo tribe in the village of Taboiaki. Ana Ngea te Unimwaane is the last shrine and offering site located at Tekib’aka tribe in Temoti village, the last village in the Southern Nonouti. The following sites were identified and chosen as the major cultural and historical sites to be visited because of their important and rich stories about the Kiribati customs and beliefs, the first arrival of Christianity in Kiribati and the married of both the traditional and western knowledge that built up the largest community house/maneaba in Kiribati.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti - International fly fishing and anglers cultural experiences in Nonouti Island

As part of the biggest preparation for the island, the TAK work closely with the local tour guide and the communities for a beautification and maintenance task. TAK spent a week for this preparation of the sites cleaning and landscaping. Part of the preparation, TAK and the local tour guide managed to create simple signage of each cultural sites & monuments. This will ensure that while the tour guide is taking the visitors around to these sites & monuments telling each story, the visitors can also relate to the signage at the same time. This will also be easy for the anglers to note down the names of cultural sites & monuments visited. Additionally, it will be helpful to the anglers when it comes to sharing such great cultural tour experiences via travel blogs or social media outlets. There would not be issues with naming such sites and monuments.

TAK also promoted to the local communities the importance of these sites and how small- scale businesses can be developed to support their livelihood at the same time. This will create a sense of ownership to these sites and will support its maintenance in the long term. “This is a great idea, we can make garlands for the anglers and sell it to them together with the fresh coconut juice (moimoto)” said Angineti Itinata from the Catholic Church women group from Te Riki-n-Imakurata, Taboiaki.

This activity is 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 celebrates World Tourism Day

The World Tourism Day celebration was held In Kiribati on Friday, 27th September 2019 on both South Tarawa and Kiritimati Island promoting the theme, Tourism & Jobs; A better future for all.

The main aim of the event is to present to senior high school student and the general public, employments opportunities and related training information available in the tourism industry.

In South Tarawa, more than 200 students turned up to the event attending the first ever Tourism Career Expo organized on the 27th September 2019. The event was officially opened by a Chief Guest, the Minister of Employment and Human Resource Development, Hon Iotebwa Redfern. The program was engaging and rewarding at the same time as exhibitors and students were having a good time discussing on the tourism and hospitality employment opportunities available and to be available at their respective organizations.

TAK Celebrates
World Tourism Day

Celebration of world tourism day in Kiritimati Island commences on the 23rd of September till the 27th September 2019. The five days celebration attended by 30 participants include training on Housekeeping conducted by TAK staff and Start Your Business (STY) delivered by the Ministry of Commerce and International Cooperation (MCIC) staff and ended with an award of certificates to participants. Official celebration which was held on the 27th September 2019 was officially opened by Chief Guest, Honorable Mikarite, Minister of the Ministry of Line and Phoenix Island Development.

TAK wishes to extend words of appreciation and gratitude to the Broadcasting and Publication Authority, Taotin Trading, Kiribati Office Equipment Supply (KOES), Triple T and the Slim Price for their generous support in sponsoring this World Tourism Day in South Tarawa and to all Exhibitors and trainers for their participation during the celebration of world tourism day.

TAK to host Tourism Careers Expo

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated 27 September 2019 as World Tourism Day and the theme for this year’s global celebration is ‘Tourism & Jobs – A Better Future for All’.

To celebrate this, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with training institutions, private sectors partners, the national airline and selected government agencies will host its first ever tourism careers expo in Tarawa and Kiritimati.

The aim of the event to present senior high school students and the general public employment opportunities and related training information available for the tourism industry.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati to Host Tourism Careers Expo

Through the KV20, tourism has been identified as a priority area that will drive economic growth for Kiribati and the tourism careers expo will help lay the platform for what TAK hopes to be a well-trained pool of tourism specialists in the future.

TAK and the exhibitors will encourage participants of the expo to appreciate the potential that a successful tourism industry can have for the Kiribati and to begin considering how they can be part of this path towards sustainable tourism growth.

5 secondary schools have confirmed their attendance at the Tarawa expo, and they include King George V & Ellaine Bernacchi School, Moroni High School, William Goward Memorial School, St. Louis High School and Sacred Heart High School. Kiritimati is expected to be attended by both high schools on the island.

Doors to both expos will open from 9am and the Tarawa expo will conclude at 3pm while the Kiritimati expo will end at 1pm.

Community first: A Bottom-Up approach to sustain livelihoods at the communities of Abemama through Eco-tourism and Community-Based Fisheries Management approach.

A team of two (2) officials from Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) and Fisheries Division (FD) had visited Abemama on the 4-11 August 2019 to empower the local communities to generate and control directly their own Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and tourism activities.

9 communities were visited including Tebwanga Maiaki and Meang, Tabontebike, Reina, Baretoa, Tekatirirake, Tabiang Maiaki and Meang and the islet of Abemama named Abatiku.

This joint initiative is to allow the communities to enhance their development and well-being in respect of the marine biodiversity and their cultural heritage in order to sustain their food security from the marine food sources against tourism and climate change impact.

Component of the consultation include amongst others; awareness on Community Based Fisheries Management locally known, tour package development utilizing cultural and natural resources available linking both agriculture and tourism sectors: “agritourism”.

This has many benefits to the communities of Abemama such as creating and sustaining livelihoods through conservation of the marine and land biodiversity, maintaining and beautification of cultural heritage sites, introducing of income generating activities through the MPAs and cultural sites tours, showcasing of unique traditional ways of living, marketing of local handicrafts, bringing in sustainable tourism developments and practices such as in planning of creative and environmental friendly accommodations. From these benefits, all are contributing to enhancing of food security against the impact of climate change and overall increasing the national economic developments as a higher-level objective.

As an outcome of this visit, the management plan for MPA in Abatiku will be drafted and to have incorporated the protection of bonefish for fly-fishing game targeted for international tourists. 1 new community from Kabangaki village proposed to establish it’s MPA, awareness is increased on the development and implementation of the tour package development, identification of constraints in the implementation of the community Fisheries Management Plans and the possible way forward, awareness is increased on the integration of their natural resources with tourism such as in showcasing the giant taro swamp and traditional skills to cultivate the giant taro plant.

During the visit to Abatiku islet, the community were also informed about the coming of the Cruise in November 2020 for the tour to this islet. Hence the community were also briefed on the need to ensure preparation of the islet for guest satisfaction and for the locals to utilize this opportunity in marketing their traditional skills, dances and handicrafts.

Strong support was seen from the communities throughout the consultation such as in the islet of Abatiku, the councilor and the members had agreed to support this visit. The councilor Mr Avia Teruruai said “you have the full support of Abatiku as a whole to prepare for the cruise visit by protecting our marine resources, maintaining and conserving the historical and cultural site at sea and on land as part of the cruise passengers unique experience”.

At Tekatirirake village, the community added that “the need of establishing our marine protected areas will serve two purposes; to protect and conserve our marine resources and also to create something that would attract tourists.” Such a comment reaffirms the of value this program for the people of Abemama. Thus, the benefits will also assist in mitigating food security challenges and create more enterprising opportunities.

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