Capacity Building

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), in collaboration with the ANZ Bank Kiribati conducted an Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale (EFTPOS) training for North and South Tarawa accommodation operators on Thursday 29^th July 2021, at Mary’s Motel Conference Room.

The training was conducted as part of the Kiribati Tourism and Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal, which encourages a non-contact and cashless payment system for all tourism operators.

The training also raised awareness on the benefits that EFTPOS payment options have for guests and how it can be used to improve yields and payment recovery for hotels and accommodation providers.

Participants of the training were made up mainly of operators that currently do not offer EFTPOS payment options and TAK plans to conduct the same training for tourism operators in the outer islands.

The training was conducted by ANZ Digital & Channel Management Manager, Mr. Mwea Timeon.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a one-week pastry and bakery training for resorts in Buariki, North Tarawa from 22 – 27 January 2021.

The training was part of TAK’s capacity building initiative through its Reset Kiribati program to help tourism service providers upskill their employees during the current border closure.

Participants to this training were from the Nemat Resort, Eutan Buariki Guesthouse, and Tarabuka Hideaway Lodge.

With the current high demand in domestic travel to North Tarawa, TAK hopes that the training will help these resorts offer their guests more variety. These include freshly baked croissants, mini milo ball, chocolate cake, stripped coconut bread, cinnamon rolls, bun with filling, donut cream, chocolate bread, coconut tart, and coconut cake.

TAK had provided similar training to other properties in South Tarawa, Maiana, Nonouti, and Abemama and plans to hold similar trainings in other islands the Gilbert group.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with Marine Division and the Kiribati Red Cross Society conducted Boat Safety and First Aid Training in Abemama from 02^nd – 23^rd November 2020.

The training was part of TAK capacity building development program funded by the LDCF-1 project to support the game fishing, established as an ecotourism venture on the island.

Abemama is one of the pilot islands, under the LDCF-1 project that has the potential for game fishing market. The training on boat safety and first aid offered, were to equip the people of Abemama with right skills and knowledge required for the safety and wellbeing of an anglers or anyone should they encounter any problem at sea or at their hotels and to prepare them when the island is opened up to international markets for fly-fishing games or for any tourist visiting Abemama island.

Participants who attended boat safety training were boat owners while first aid training was attended by tour guides and accommodation providers.

Another key component of the project is to help generate income from the coastal zone resources sustainably and to motivate the locals to practice coastal fisheries conservation.

The training was also an opportunity to encourage Abemama communities to value their marine environments as means to build resilience against climate change condition and improve visitor experiences.

The mission was funded by the Food Security project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) -Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) through the United Nations Development Programme, and executed by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.     

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.

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.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with experienced fishing Guide Mr Ioran Kaiteie is conducting a fishing guide training on Maiana Island. The training which commenced on the 17^th of August 2020 will be running for three weeks and will end on the 5^th of September 2020. The first week of the training was focused on fishing guide while the remaining weeks will be spent at sea learning on hands fly fishing techniques.

Maiana is one of the Northern islands of Kiribati that has the  potential for fly fishing activity. With its’ close proximity to South Tarawa, Maiana is an excellent spot for fly-fishing. The purpose of the training is to equip the locals with knowledge and skills of the fly-fishing game.

This is the first fly-fishing guide training offered to the people of Maiana and the training also provides awareness on promoting sustainable tourism through the preservation bonefish of and understanding its value in the fly-fishing market.

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.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in collaboration with Marine Division and Red Cross carried out a Capacity Building Program on Nonouti Island. The program consisted of two parts, a Tour Guide & Boat Safety Training and Pastry & First Aid training.

The purpose of these training is to enhance the skills of the people of Nonouti on tour guiding and pastry baking and equipped with boat safety and first skills relevant to any tourism business operation.

The Boat Safety & Tour Guide training was carried out on the 6^th to 13^th August 2020 with 18 and 10 participants respectively.

Pastry and First Aid training were held the following week commencing on 13^th and ended on the 20^th of August 2020 with 16 and 32 participants respectively.

Mr. Iotebwa from Marine Division conducted Boat Safety training and Ms. Eretaake from Red Cross conducted the First Aid training. Pastry and Tour guiding were conducted by TAK officials.

TAK hopes these training will prepare Nonouti Island enable operators in Nonouti to provide a better-quality services and guest experiences.

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.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in collaboration with the Marine Division and the Kiribati Red Cross Society undertook tourism operator training in Maiana, from 20 – 24th April 2020

The Training was part of the TAK capacity building development program to support the game fishing initiatives, to establish an ecotourism venture on the island.

Maiana island is one of the pilot islands, under the LDCF-I project, aimed to develop a game fishing market for the island.  Ultimately the project aims to help generate income from the coastal zone resources sustainably, and also motivate the locals to practice coastal fisheries conservation.

The specific areas of training included  boat safety, first aid, pastry/baking and tour guiding. This activity should guarantee that: the people of Maiana are well prepared when the whole island is eventually opened up to international markets for fly-fishing games; as communities organize their tour activities and programs.

In addition, the training had also encouraged the community members in Maiana to actively engage in reviving any food conservation methods, as well as valuing their culture, land and marine environments, as means to build resilience under climate change conditions and improve visitor experiences.

The boat safety and first aid training were particularly relevant to the game fishing market as there were focused on equipping participants with any immediate and required services to anglers should they encounter any problem at sea.

68 participants attended the four training sessions which were all run at the same time and 57 % of the attendees were women and 43% were men.

The week concluded with a closing ceremony and the awarding of certificates to all participants and the handing over of the speed boat to the Maiana Island Council from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development.

Mayor and the Leader of the Elders Association (Te Bau Ni Maiana) on the island, applauded the successful completion of the training. with