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TAK attends International Workshop on Ecotourism for Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) at Manado, Indonesia.

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The Deputy CEO of Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in a two- day workshop on Ecotourism which was conducted on 26-27th October 2019 at Manado, North Sulawesi, Republic of Indonesia. Kiribati was amongst 7 other Archipelagic and Small Island states that took part in the workshop which included Solomon Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Maldives, Seychelles, St Kilda and Indonesia. The workshop was jointly conducted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Coordinating Ministry of Marine Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and supported by UNDP Indonesia.

The 2-day workshop provided a very interactive platform, where participants engaged in discussions on Ecotourism programs, plannings, developments and management practices. Participants had the honour of learning opportunities, challenges and success stories of Bali tourism, and as well as getting updated on the business model that was adopted for Bali Ecotourism initiatives. Participants were also able to apply the business model based on different case studies and adding value based on their different country contributions.

Kiribati is grateful to be a part of this productive workshop as it not only contributed to capacity building and a great learning experience, but it has engaged broader networking with different tourism stakeholders within Indonesia, and other small island states within the Pacific and beyond.

Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) visit to Beru Island

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The IVA survey team conducted their survey on Beru Island on the 13 – 15 November 2019. The IVA team is made up of various Government ministries and NGO’s under the Kiribati National Expert Group (KNEG) including the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development (MFMRD), the water division under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE), the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), the Office of Te Beretitenti (OB), the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs (MWYSSA) and the UNDP. This is the fifth time that TAK has joined the IVA team in carrying out their survey.

The main purpose of the survey is to identify key issues experienced by the local people in relation to the effects of climate change. The targeted group of the survey are the elderly men (Unimwane), women, youth and people with disabilities from each village.

The team also managed to conduct their own sector activities. All IVA team members were tasked to conduct their own sector activities in order to provide valuable and strong evidence on the effects of climate change experienced by the locals that would help fully equip the final IVA report that will be produced by the Office of Te Beretitenti.

The TAK conducted its Tourism Business & Inventory Survey (TBIS) at the two guesthouses – the catholic parish’s St Joseph’s guesthouse and Rongongo guesthouse, following up on the TBIS survey conducted in February of this year. Other potential tourist sites were plotted using GPS to develop a tourist map of the island.

The Catholic Parish is currently upgrading its guesthouse building, carrying out major renovations, while the Rongorongo guesthouse has its own Wi-Fi (24 hours internet) now. Seeing the two guesthouses and comparing their conditions from the last visit in February, there are improvements seen as there are more kiakia or buia (local open house) provided at the Catholic guesthouse while Rongorongo guesthouse has its own Wi-Fi.

There are also other sites being plotted that holds significant history which includes the old house located at the island council guesthouse compound (Commissioner’s house for the Southern islands during colonial times), the bombed areas at Rongorongo, the original house of  Alfred Sadd –   the missionary famously known for his bravery when he saluted the Union Jack (national flag of the United Kingdom) and folded it when told by the Japanese to walk on it.

One of Beru’s uniqueness is te bokaboka (literally translated as ‘the mud’), an edible alga that is still eaten today. The myth of te bokaboka is that an old woman by the name of Nei Tebanikarawa first discovered this rare alga. It was during the famine period in Beru, Nei Tebanikarawa dreamt about the edible algae, in her dream she was directed to the site where the algae can be found as well as steps for preparing it to be eaten. It was from her dream that this te bokaboka was first discovered and also found to be the most unique traditional food of the island. Te bokaboka is what distinguishes Beru Island from the rest of the Kiribati Islands as it is only be found in Beru Island at Taboiaki village on the southern part of Beru Island.

The trip was co-financed by the OB and UNDP.

WASH Workshop in Kiritimati

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A WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)  workshop in Kiritimati island coordinated by UNICEF was conducted at the Village hotel for two days on 11 & 12 November 2019.

The workshop emphasized on the importance of accessing safe drinking water, good and safe sanitation and hygiene. The workshop is part of UNICEF’s training awareness program for the Water and Sanitation project to be implemented on the island and will be funded by the European Union

Participation of TAK Kiritimati in the workshop gave us the opportunity to get a broad understanding of the program and to include it in Tourism awareness and training programs to both schools and accommodation providers in the future.

Kiritimati is a world-class fly-fishing destination and this workshop, and the project will also support tourism development through access to safe fresh water and good sanitation by tourism operators, schools and local communities.

Tourism Product Research identifies 7 sites to visit in Kiritimati island

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati in Kiritimati Island conducted a tourism product research to identify key activities that a visitor can do while on the island.

Part of the preparation, involved, meeting with a representative from Wildlife & Conservation Unit, Agriculture division and Fisheries division to discuss and identify each individual’s resources that could be highlighted as one of the tourism activities that a visitor can engage or involve in.

An on-site visit to the 7 target proposed tourism sites on the island was carried out on Friday 1st of November 2019. The idea of a site visit was to get familiarized with the area, get good photos and GPS plotting to develop a tourist map of the island.

The seven propose sites includes

  1. Agriculture plantation land – an opportunity for a visitor to plants his/her own coconut tree
  2. Artemia Corner – to see turtle’s footprint and nesting ground.
  3. Joe’s Hill – highlighted as the highest sand hill on the island.
  4. The Isles lagoon – ideal for Kayaking and bird feeding and bird watching
  5. Huff Dam – ideal for GT fishing, kayaking, bird feeding and bird watching
  6. Te Nei Rababa – an opportunity for a visitor to see a unique coconut tree that has 9 trunks
  7. Long Beach – ideal for a visitor to suntan on a very wide and long white beach and swimming.

New Cultural Holiday Package for Abemama

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The village of Reina on the island of Abemama, located South East of Tarawa has set a target to enhance their livelihoods through tourism by developing cultural products and experiences for international visitors.

In collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Kiribati, they have developed a 5 and 3 days cultural holiday package that promotes the use of cultural skills to demonstrate how to preserve the local food, touring of the bwabwai (pronounced “papai”) pit known as the “giant swamp taro” – agritourism, cutting of toddy, mantis shrimp fishing and performing the Kiribati traditional dance. 

A sample of this product was showcased to TAK Product Development Officer, Ms. Kiarake Karuaki and visiting government officials who were part of the LDCF-I project team that visited Abemama from 25 October – 04 November 2019.

TAK also facilitated the production of a video documentary on the Reina cultural package and will share this with other pilot islands and other island communities who wish to learn how to create value using their cultural way of living.

The package includes return domestic flights from Tarawa with Air Kiribati and accommodation at the Abemama Eco Green Hotel with all meals included.

TAK was also part of the team that assisted the community in developing their bylaw for a sustainable community-based tourism. The bylaw is now in draft and will be endorsed after consultation with the island council in mid-December.

Mr Martin Tekeewaa – the President of Reina village mentioned that the bylaw will guide the village work accordingly to the set of guidelines and rules agreed to ensure the sustainability of their small-scale tourism business (cultural tour program).

This initiative was supported by the LDCF-I project, the Global Environment Facility and UNDP and the Environment and Conservation Division MELAD.

TAK attends 3rd China – Pacific Economic Development and Cooperation Forum

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22 October 2019:

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) was part of the Kiribati delegation to the 3rd China – Pacific Islands Economic Development and Cooperation Forum held in Apia, Samoa on 21 October 2019.

The delegation was led by the Hon Minister for (MELAD) and included government officials from various ministry’s and the office of the President.

In its submission, TAK recognized the potential that the People’s Republic of China presents for the Kiribati tourism market and the need to raise awareness on tourism investment opportunities across the nation.

TAK attends 3rd China – Pacific Economic Development and Cooperation Forum

Chief Executive Officer, Petero Manufolau used the forum to create awareness on Kiribati’s vision for its tourism sector highlighting that the delivery of Air Kiribati’s Embraer jet aircrafts in December will mean a giant leap forward for the destination.

TAK shared that the sustainable growth of tourism in Kiribati however cannot be realized merely by the increased airline seat capacity from 2020. Other factors such product development, effective marketing and promotion and a China ready approach to human resource development and service delivery play an important role in achieving this.  Most vital to all these is an initial commitment to tourism infrastructure investment that will help pave the way for sustainable tourism growth in Kiribati.

TAK is chair of SIST Tourism Subcommittee

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03 October 2019:
Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) was voted to the chairmanship role of the Small Island States & (SIST) Tourism Subcommittee at the Pacific Tourism Organisation (formerly the South Pacific Tourism Organisation) Board of Directors meeting in Niue on Thursday 03 October 2019.

Members of SIST includes American Samoa, Niue, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Kiribati, Tokelau and Wallis & Futuna.

The primary role of the subcommittee is to champion the tourism development priorities of the SIST’s within PTO as most of them fall into the lower end of the tourism spectrum in the Pacific.

 

TAK is chair of SIST Tourism Subcommittee

Tourism Authority of Kiribati

The SIST subcommittee meeting noted transport/connectivity, capacity building, planning, proposal writing, contract writing, business writing, information sharing and climate change adaptation & resilience as the key tourism development priorities for its members.

The Pacific Island Forum Leaders Conference in Tuvalu listed climate change, air and sea transportation, health & marine as their key priorities for the region. Whilst tourism was not specifically identified as a priority area, SIST acknowledged that tourism cuts through these 4 priority areas. It therefore believes that there is a need for stronger push for tourism and has tasked the PTO secretariat to find more information of SIS Development Fund and SIS Roadmap for Accelerating Development.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati’s engagement in such an important working committee reflects its mission of becoming an active partner to tourism development in the Pacific

Pacific Tourism Statistics Assessment PARIS21 – SPTO collaboration on the preparation of Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy 2020 – 2024

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The South Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), Paris 21 and the TAK met with various Government offices and a private sector business from October 21st – 23rd to discuss statistics and data related issues and concerns on tourism as part of the project on “Pacific Tourism Statistics Assessment, a collaboration between SPTO, Paris 21 and member countries.

Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century (PARIS21) promotes the better use and management of statistics throughout the developing world.

The assessment will involve site visits in only six of the fifteen selected case study Pacific Island countries (PICs) from October to December. The countries to be visited are Fiji, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Niue and Tonga. For the other PICs, desk research and interviews by Skype and phone calls will be conducted. Countries were selected based on a fair representation of the Pacific Islands sub-regions of Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia as well as the different market segments, source markets, depth of tourism statistics development and the number of arrivals.

Pacific Tourism Statistics Assessment PARIS21 - SPTO collaboration on the preparation of Pacific Tourism Statistics Strategy 2020 - 2024

Mr. Mark Lound, a Regional Consultant on Tourism Statistics engaged by Paris21 and Mr. Kotoyawa Tamani, SPTO Tourism Officer, met with the Immigration Office, National Statistics Office, National Economic Planning Office, Climate Finance Division, Coastal Fisheries Division, Tobaraoi, LINNIX, Education, Environment Conservation Division, Public Health Division and Customs.

The results of the assessment will inform the design of the regional tourism statistics strategy that would align with the development priorities on tourism in the region as articulated in the Strategic Plan 2020-2024 and will support the data needs of the strategy.

The overall objective of the project is to design a regional strategy for the strengthening of tourism statistics in the Pacific to align with the policy priorities on tourism in the region and support data needs of the SPTO’s  2020-2024 Strategic Plan. This assessment report on tourism statistics in the Pacific is expected to be completed in March 2020.

Integrated Vulnerability Assessment of Banaba

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) was also part of the Integrated Vulnerability Assessment (IVA) team to Banaba trip led by the Office of Te Beretitenti (OB). Various Government Ministries who were also part of the survey included the Ministry of Education, Agricultural division, Coastal Fisheries Division, Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

The team departed Tarawa on the 29th of September and arrived at Banaba on 1st October. The purpose of the survey was to identify the main issues in relation to the climate change impacts encountered by the people of Banaba.

The survey was conducted on the 2nd of October 2019, and it involved different focus groups from different villages which included, youth, women, men, handicapped etc. The TAK took the opportunity to conduct its own mapping activity by collecting the coordinates of some historical sites such as the Te B’angab’anga Cave (Banaban Cave), Monument of Albert Fuller Ellis, Slaughter Site, and the Phosphate Mining area. These sites hold significant history of Banaba which can serve as historical attractions for those who wish to visit the island.

 

Integrated Vulnerability Assessment of Banaba

Banaba has the potential to develop tourism products such the WWII history and the phosphate mining by the British Phosphate Commission. These sites can serve as attractions to those whose families worked on Banaba during the phosphate mining period as well as researchers and WWII enthusiasts.

The island is ideal for ecotourism activities such as kayaking and snorkeling as the water is very clear and clean. However, a feasibility study is required to properly identify the exact sites for these water activities for the safety of the visitors.

The potential for niche tourism development is present however this may require further support in infrastructure and capacity building to develop these activities so that the island can be promoted as an attraction.

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

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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.

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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