Line Islands News – Page 2 – Kaongora Newsletter

Beautification Initiative on Kiritimati Island

February 28, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Kiribati island of Kiritimati (Christmas Island) commenced its monthly clean-up on Wednesday 13th February 2023. This initiative is organized by the Kiritimati Clean-up Committee, a working group set up with the aim to improve awareness and campaign on the importance of environmental cleanliness across the island.

Through collaboration, the committee promotes, demonstrates and encourage environmental awareness on littering, waste disposal and pollution, as major concerns to the environment. It functions with the aim to eradicate illegal dumping and waste disposal sites on Kiritimati.

The first clean-up was carried out at the lagoon sides of Tennessee communities from Morokai to Bahai church sites where most of the rubbish and waste is from households living in the area.

TAK Senior Tourism Officer, Tekonaba Teburea says “it was encouraging to witness strong support on this first ever clean-up, and TAK is looking forward to work with the communities and the committee in the next clean-up”.

Teburea added that TAK envisages that Kiritimati Island will be clean and safe Island Paradise for visitors when flights resume to the island.

The clean-up committee includes of representatives from Kiritimati Island communities, Ministry of Tourism, Commerce and Industry Cooperatives (MTCIC), TAK, Ministry of Women, Youth, Sport & Social Affairs (MWYSSA), Wildlife Conservation Unit and is chaired by a representative from the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Island Development (MLPID).

Kiritimati Island Trade Show and Quality Day 2022

October 29, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC) in Kiritimati Island hosted the 2022 Kiritimati Trade show and Quality Day at the Mini stadium in London, Kiritimati on Friday 21^st October 2022.

The theme of this year’s event was ‘Quality Domestic Trades Strengthen Product Integrity’ and was officially opened by Kiritimati Island Mayor, Mr. Naatua Teiti and was attended by representatives of the public and private sector.

This is an annual gathering of local producers and manufacturers who aim to increase public understanding of their products and services through demonstration, promotion and consumer engagement.

MTCIC used the event to also evaluate the prices and quality of the goods and services against customer expectation and the prescribed standards required for domestic and international trade.

The exhibition booths at the event featured handicraft and traditional clothing and artifact creators, local salt producer, traditional food produced like smoked fish, and outboard motor spare parts operators.

Kiritimati tourism operators prepared for safe reopening

September 30, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted the final training on Tourism and Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal to employees of the Sunset Horizon Fishing Lodge in Kiritimati on 21 and 22 September 2022.

This marks a milestone achievement for TAK Kiritmati who have now effectively completed the training for all tourism operators on the island, best known as a world class saltwater fly fishing destination.

A total of two hundreds and twenty-nine (229) tourism employees including, hospitality staff, fishing guides, rental car drivers and boatmen in Kiritimati have completed this training.

Through this training, TAK believes that Kiritimati tourism operators are now better informed and equipped to apply COVID-19 safety measures and protocols to travellers once their international border reopens.

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.

TAK Welcomes Queen’s Baton

March 10, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) yesterday welcomed the 2022 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton at the Takoronga World War ll gun site in Betio, South Tarawa.

As a build up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, the games organisers have staged the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay which will see the Queen’s Baton on an epic journey across all 72 nations of the Commonwealth, including Kiribati. The relay began on 07 October 2021 with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth ll placing her message to the Commonwealth in the Baton which will be read out at the Birmingham 2022 opening ceremony.

TAK is privileged to have been part of this global event and joins the rest of Kiribati and the Pacific in celebrating the hope, solidarity and collaboration fostered by the Queen’s Baton Relay. TAK hopes that such an event will help connect communities across the Pacific as we embrace our unique cultures and share our inspirational stories in what has been a challenging year in travel and tourism.

Receiving the Baton at the Battle of Tarawa WWll site in Betio is also significant for TAK as it is an important part of Kiribati’s history and the Kiribati visitor experience.

TAK acknowledges the Kiribati National Olympic Committee (KNOC) for including tourism in Kiribati leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay and wishes all athletes and officials the very best at the Birmingham games.

TAK conduct Tourism Restart training in Teraina Island

February 28, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its Tourism Restart Training and Awareness Program on Teraina (Washington) Island in the Line Group in February 2022.

To prepare hotel operators for the new normal in tourism, TAK conducted the Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the new normal/ COVID-19 Safety Protocols for accommodation providers on 14 -15 February at the island Council Maneaba in Teraina.

TAK also collaborated with Teraina accommodation providers and conducted a Mauri Mark assessment of their facilities based on fire safety procedure, health hygiene standards, safety & maintenance, facilities and in room amenities, environmental sustainability practices and guest support service.

The assessments highlighted areas in which the accommodation providers will need to improve their basics service offering and TAK will guide them through that improvement process.

Whilst in Teraina, TAK also conducted a Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS). Through this activity, TAK collects and updates database on the number of accommodations available, number of beds, staff training needs, services, facilities, and contact information. The survey also included the updating of TAK images of the various properties for promotional purposes.

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.

Tourism Authority Kiribati