Kiritimati Island News – Page 2 – Kaongora Newsletter

Kiritimati Island Reopens to Domestic Travel

April 29, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Government of Kiribati through the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development (MLPID) declared that Kiritimati Island domestic border is now reopenedThis is following the island’s complete lockdown in mid-January 2022 when Kiribati’s first COVID-19 community transmission case was recorded in the country’s capital, Tarawa.

To accommodate the COVID-19 domestic travel requirements, Minister MLPID, Honourable Mikarite Temari announced that the new Senior Secondary School on the island will be used as a temporary quarantine center. He added the construction for the new and permanent quarantine center will commence soon and scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Kiritimati Island welcomed its first domestic charter flight from Tarawa under this new arrangement on Sunday 10 April 2022 and visitors included medical personnel, teachers, visitors and returning residents.

All passengers a 7 days compulsory quarantine at the centre and were allowed to continue with there travel in Kiritimati following negative COVID-10 test.

International travel into Kiribati for tourism is currently closed. Full details of the country’s COVID-19 situation are available on www.covid19.gov.ki

Tourism Awareness & Appreciation Program continues in Kiritimati

April 29, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its tourism awareness outreach programme for Kiritimati Island Years 6 and 9 students on 03 April 2022.

This initiative is part the TAK’s Training and Development Division’s function to strengthen awareness and nurture appreciation for tourism and its importance amongst our children.

The five (5) schools that participated in this program were Tennessee, Tabwakeauea, Golf Port, Poland Primary School, and Kiritimati junior secondary school.

TAK extended this program through roadshows and in local communities.

Kiritimati is COVID-19 free, and its awareness program is part of TAK’s tourism restart program and preparing the islands for a safe start to tourism when Kiribati’s international borders reopen.

First Grant to Kiritimati Island Outfitters

December 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

Fly Water Travel through Ambleve Bedrock Foundation had allocated first grant of $20,000 for Christmas Island Outfitters in Kiritimati Island. Ambleve Bedrock Foundation, Fly Water Travel had raised more than $15,000 as a relief fund to Christmas Island Outfitters fishing guides affected from COVID 19 travel bans.

Kiritimati Island Head Guide and owner of the Christmas Island Outfitters Mr. Bita Kairaoi confirmed the grant provides for a $200 monthly payment to each recipient. The first payment was made back in April 2020 and to date, more than AUD$10,000 has been paid out to Mr. Kairaoi and his six fishing guides.

Mr Kairaoi said, “we are grateful to the grant which has greatly helped sustain our income during this COVID 19 travel lockdown and we thank Fly Water Travel and Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this generous and kindhearted support in providing this grant.”

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) on Christmas Island has witnessed the adverse impact the COVID 19 travel ban is having on tourism businesses and employees including fishing guides. It joins Christmas Island Outfitters in extending its sincere gratitude to Fly Water Travel and the Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this valuable initiative.

Kiritimati Celebrates World Food Day

December 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati TAK) in Kiritimati Island participated in World Food Day celebration from 30th November to 04th December 2020. This program was organized by the Agriculture Division of the Ministry of Environment, Land and Agricultural Development (MELAD).

This year’s World Food Day was commemorated through a roadshow awareness program to London, Tabakea and Banana, a cleanathon, and household cleaning and gardening competition. Activities were drawn from World Food Day theme of “Grow, Nourish, Sustain, Together, Our Actions are our Future”.

The World Food Day celebrations concluded on 04th December with a fruits and vegetable farming competitions between communities and farmers. Participants were judged on the size and weight of their produce. There was also a gardening competition which was judged based on the beauty, diversity and range, health, planning and designed, and creativity.

The celebration was attended by OIC for MLPID, Lordship Mayor from the Kiritimati Urban Council and his team, Government Head of Divisions, Communities, farmers and staff of the Ministry of Environment, Lands & Agricultural Development.

Kiritimati South East Peninsula committee meets

October 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in Kiritimati is part of the South East Peninsula Project Committee, developed to implement a project that will safeguard Kiritimati Island’s Wildlife.

The committee met on 26 October 2020 to discuss a budget and program for the launch of a new “Kiritimati Island Conservation Protected Areas” project.

The project will be funded under the BIOPAMA programme, an initiative of the ACP Group of States financed by the European Development Fund (EDF), jointly implemented by the International Union for conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Joint Research Center of the European Commission (JRC).

It is envisioned that the project will enhance the management and governance of priority protected areas in Kiritimati by addressing existing limitations, strengthening on-site infrastructure/equipment for patrolling, poaching control, developing capacity of staff. The project will also enforce the legal framework required to achieve effective biodiversity and to support local communities’ initiatives that will enhance the livelihoods of local people and effectively contribute to the management of protected areas.

The project will also oversee the development of the management plan for the protected areas in Kiritimati. Once completed, the plan will provide recommendations for sustainable tourism activities that will generate long term benefits both to the environment and the national economy.

Kiritimati Business Award Survey

October 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) together with the Ministry of Industry & Cooperatives (MCIC) in Kiritimati Island conducted a Kiribati Business Survey to five of Kiritimati Accommodations on Thursday 15 October 2020.

Properties surveyed included the Village Hotel, Lagoon View Resort, Little Flower, Sunset Horizon Fishing Lodge and IKARI House. Due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel to Kiritimati, the survey criteria and questionnaire were altered to reflect the current status of accommodation business operations in Kiritimati

The survey measured each accommodation’s performance based in these new criteria where the highest achiever will be crowned winner Accommodation and Hospitality category in the 2020 Kiribati National Business Awards.

Kiritimati will hold its National Business awards on 28 December 2020.

TAK Kiritimati celebrates World Tourism Day

September 30, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati office in Kiritimati Island celebrated World Tourism Day for one week from the 21 to 25 September 2020. Part of the one-week program included trainings and awareness programs conducted by Ministry of Commerce & Industry Cooperative (MCIC), Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport & Social Affairs (MWYSSA), and Wildlife.

MCIC & MWYSA conducted trainings on Business Acts and Women empowerment from 21 to 22 September 2020, while a clean-up campaign organized by Wildlife & Conservation Division conducted on 24 September 2020.

Official celebration was held on Friday 25 September at the Millennium maneaba. The program included remarks from Officer in Charge for Line and Phoenix Office Mr. Bwereti Tewareka followed by the award of certificates and reference to the 20 participants of the Business Acts and Women Empowerment trainings and the award for third prize in the National Essay writing competition.

Invited guests included OIC for MLPID, tourism operators and accommodation providers, training participants, participating schools, and markers for essay writing competition, OIC for MHMS, and the WTD committee members.

TAK in Kiritimati Solid Waste management committee

September 30, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Kiritimati Solid Waste management committee which includes TAK conducted their meeting at Wildlife & Conservation Unit office on the 03 September 2020 was chaired by the Senior Environment inspector, Mr Ata Binoka.

The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss proposed work plans and activities for solid waste management. Chair Binoka stated that the Budget for the cleaning campaign program was now ready and stakeholders are requested to prepare their programs and budget related to Solid Waste Management to be compiled and sent to the Solid Waste management project office.

However, TAK’s programs and activities will focus on tourism awareness programs related to solid waste management and sustainable tourism development.

Kiritimati opens 2nd Medical Clinic

July 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

Kiritimati Island opened its 2nd medical clinic at Banana Village on Friday 17th 2020. This was part of the government project, built to accommodate an increase in population in Banana due to the newly relocated residents.

Banana is located 25km away (approximately 1-hour drive) from the main hospital. with a growing population, and government sees the need to build another medical clinic to lessen the burden of having to travel long distances to receive medical attention. The clinic is also conveniently located next to Cassidy International airport and close to recreational sites (bird-watching and game fishing grounds.)

The official opening event was attended by the Honorable Minister Mikarite Temari and Mrs Faioa Temari along with the Heads of Departments of the Ministry of Lines, Phoenix Island Development.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati welcomes this new development in Kiritimati as it believes that it will contribute to making the island tourism ready once international flights resume.

Kiritimati Mini- Trade show

July 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

Kiritimati Mini Trade Show is a new program included in this year’s independence celebration in Kiritimati Island, organized by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperation branch in Kiritimati, and supported by the Ministry of Line and Phoenix Islands Development and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati in Kiritimati.

The event was held at the Mini Stadium in Ronton on Friday 10th July 2020 with more than ten vendors participating in selling of their different carved handicrafts, necklaces and bracelets made from shells, local hats, Mauri wear clothes just to name a few. Local produce such as vegetables, plants and fruits were also sold during the trade show. The event also includes a competition of different types of local meal courses provided.

In his opening remarks, Honorable Minister Mikarite Temari relay the importance of culture and how maintaining our traditional knowledge and skills will benefit all of us, socially, culturally and economically and for the future development of tourism in Kiritimati and Kiribati nation at large. He added that the government is supporting this initiative since it is part of the government pillar in its KV20 priorities on tourism development through cultural sustainability.

Tourism Authority Kiribati