Consultation

The Tourism Authority Team, composed of representatives from various Governmental Departments, recently conducted an awareness campaign to inform the Tarawa Urban Council members about the upcoming changes in the collection of Tourism Operators License fees. The Team included a representative from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a Legal Adviser from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, a Standard and Licensing Manager, and a Tourism Officer currently in training at the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK).

The Awareness campaign focused on the new Licensing role of the TAK, set to begin in early 2025 under the Tourism Act 2018. The purpose was to notify TUC members the responsibility for collecting tourism operators license fees would transition from the island councils under the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Tourism Authority (TAK). This change aims to streamline the process and ensure that the fees are reinvested into the tourism sector.

Mr Iataake King, the Standard and Licensing Manager, explained that the fees collected by the TAK will be reinvested into the Tourism Operators through a marketing fund. This fund will be used to promote and market the Operators’ Establishments in the international Markets. Additionally, TAK will enhance services by providing training in areas such as Customer Service, Cookery, and housekeeping based on the needs of the tourism operators.

The TUC Council, although expressing some concerns and differing views about not being consulted during the drafting of the Tourism ACT and the potential loss of revenue starting in 2025, has agreed to support the new measures. They recognized the necessity of adhering to the new legislation and pledged their full support.

TAK expressed gratitude towards the TUC Council for their understanding and cooperation in this transition period. The campaign aims to ensure a smooth shift in licensing responsibilities and to foster a more robust and competitive Tourism Sector in Kiribati.

The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives (MTCIC) held a half-day awareness campaign with the Mayor, Councilors, and the clerk of the Kiritimati Urban Council on 29th July on the new licensing regime for all local tourism operators under the new TAK Regulation which stipulates that the collection of tourism license fees will be implemented by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in 2025.

The awareness consultation was led by legal advisor Mr. Waimauri Nawaia from the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives in Tarawa, who was accompanied by the Principal Tourism Officer from TAK office based in Kiritimati Island.
In the existing practice, the Kiritimati Urban Council Office, like other island council offices throughout Kiribati, collects the hotel and tour operation license fees. Through this awareness consultation, the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industries & Cooperatives promoted and informed the Kiritimati Urban Council that by the beginning of 2025, all licenses from hotels and tour operations will be collected and payable to the Tourism Authority of Kiribati.

The Kiritimati Urban Council is very supportive of this new change. The mayor and his councilors are looking forward to further development of the tourism and hospitality sector as anticipated in this change.

Kiritimati is now the 5th island to be informed about this new role by TAK and the new licensing initiative. Further awareness will be extended to Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) and Teraina (Washington Island) later in the year.