Tourism Authority Kiribati

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Meeting & Conference

First Meeting and Induction of the New TAK Board of Directors

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) convened the first meeting and induction program for its newly appointed Board of Directors on 25 November 2025, held at the MTCIC Boardroom in Betio.

TAK extends its sincere appreciation to all new Board Directors for their attendance and for demonstrating their commitment to the continued growth and development of the organisation. Their guidance and leadership will play a pivotal role in advancing the progress of Kiribati’s tourism sector.

Newly Appointed Board Directors:

  1. Mrs. Maryanne Mikaere Namakin – Chairlady
  2. Mr. Teurakai Ukenio – Deputy Chairman
  3. Mr. Kinta Eram
  4. Mr. Daniel Langley (Kiritimati Representative)
  5. Ms. Pelea Tehumu
  6. Ms. Louisa Bitamatang
  7. Mrs. Kataraiti Koraing
  8. Mr. Tewia Tawita

This important gathering marked not only a formal introduction but also the beginning of a strengthened partnership that will guide TAK toward a brighter and more sustainable future.

PACIFIC YOUTH LEADING THE WAY TOWARD SUSTAINABLE TOURISM.

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) proudly represented Kiribati at the inaugural Youth Forum on Sustainable Tourism, held from 18-22 October 2025 in Neiafu, Vava’u Island, Kingdom of Tonga.

Ms. Kiarake Karuaki, Tourism Officer for Product Development, joined youth delegates from across the Pacific to share insights and experiences in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for tourism in the region.

This landmark forum was a direct outcome of the 2023 Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting, where regional leaders endorsed the establishment of a youth platform under the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit. The initiative aims to empower young Pacific voices to play an active role in advancing sustainable, culturally grounded, and inclusive tourism development.

Youth representatives from Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Niue, Fiji, and Kiribati took part in the five-day program, sharing inspiring stories of innovation, resilience, and cultural pride.

Over four days of dialogue, workshops, and collaboration, participants reflected on their roles as emerging leaders in tourism. The forum provided a platform to exchange ideas, explore shared challenges, and build a collective vision for a more resilient and sustainable Pacific tourism sector.

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Pacific Youth in Tourism Action Plan (2025-2030), unveiled during the Tourism Ministers Meeting. This strategic framework outlines a shared commitment among Pacific youth to co-create a regenerative tourism landscape, one that honours cultural heritage, promotes environmental stewardship, and strengthens community empowerment.

The forum also fostered meaningful regional connections, laying the groundwork for ongoing collaboration and innovation among Pacific youth in tourism. Their unified vision underscores the importance of youth engagement in ensuring that tourism continues to benefit both people and the planet.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati extends its sincere gratitude to Pacer Plus for funding the Youth Forum and expresses heartfelt appreciation to the Pacific Tourism Organization (SPTO), the Government and Ministry of Tourism of Tonga, local tourism operators, and the people of Vava’u for their warm hospitality and unwavering support in making this milestone event a success.

German Hapag Lloyd Cruise Ship ‘MV Hanseatic Inspiration’ set to Visit Bikati Islet, Butaritari on the 2nd of May 2025

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On November 4th, TAK had the pleasure of meeting with Thomas Schubert from Pacific International Consulting and the Manager of Shipping Agencies of Kiribati (SAOK) to discuss preparations for the anticipated arrival of the cruise ship MV Hanseatic Inspiration at Bikati Islet in Butaritari, scheduled for May 2, 2025. This marks the third visit by a Hapag Lloyd Cruises vessel to Butaritari, following previous visits in 2015 and 2018. Unfortunately, two planned visits to Bikati in 2021 and 2022 had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with cruise operations resuming last year, Kiribati is pleased to welcome this renewed opportunity.

During the meeting, Mr. Schubert shared that the cruise line was highly impressed with the 2018 excursion and is delighted to once again include Bikati, Butaritari, as a destination on its Great Micronesia Cruise Expedition. The MV Hanseatic Inspiration, departing from New Caledonia and Palau, will carry 220 passengers who will experience a full-day excursion on Bikati Islet. This visit is not only a wonderful opportunity to showcase Kiribati’s unique beauty and culture to international guests but also promises to generate meaningful economic benefits for the Butaritari Island community and Kiribati as a whole.

Photo above from left to right; George Kumkee Jr (Senior Tourism Officer), Reeti Onorio (Agt CEO), Thomas Schubert (Pacific International Consulting), and Naare Taukoriri (Manager Shipping Agencies of Kiribati)

TAK attends the Tropical Coastal Tourism Event in Sanya, China

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The Acting CEO, of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati attended the Tropical Coastal Tourism Event in Sanya, China on 4-6th September 2024 as a guest speaker to the panel discussions on Indigenous Tourism panel discussions.

The event was organized by the Sanya Tourism Board and supported by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The event’s theme “The Next Wave: Shaping the Future of Tourism Marketing in Tropical Coastal Cities,” brought together representatives from international tourism organizations, delegates from foreign city administrations alongside domestic governmental sectors and travel companies.

The Acting CEO, TAK had the opportunity to be featured in the additional panel discussions focusing on Indigenous Tourism: Enriching Journeys and Supporting Local Communities. The panelists consisting of WAITOC Australia, Tourism Solomon and Tourism Selangor of Indonesia, and Tourism Authority of Kiribati highlighted the importance of respecting and preserving indigenous cultures whilst promoting economic development through tourism.

For Kiribati as being the least developed tourism destination in the event, Ms. Onorio of TAK took the opportunity to highlight the importance of cultural tourism reflected in the newly launched Community Based Tourism initiatives in the Kiribati outer islands.
This was the first PATA event that TAK attended being a newly registered member since 2022.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati attended the inaugural stakeholder workshop on Pacific Island Early Warning System Workshop

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The U. S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gathered climate change stakeholders in the Pacific to assist in assessing the current capacity and challenges in advancing flood and drought EWS. Participants included professionals from the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), Sustainable Pacific Community (SPC), the World Meteorological Organization RA-V Regional Office, Non-Governmental Organizations such as Red Cross, local authorities, community organizations, and other stakeholders from the agricultural, tourism, and/or transportation sectors.

The 9-days’ workshop commenced from the 15th to 23rd July 2024, and in two-fold – one week workshop first for the forecasters and followed by the stakeholders’ workshop on the 22nd – 23rd July. The Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development led the Kiribati team.

The stakeholder workshop is part of the implementation of the Pacific PREPARE (President Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience) Plan. The PREPARE project will enhance capacity in the Pacific by developing training materials and delivering the training to climate services professionals and decision makers institutions in the region.

Following the workshop, NOAA will use state-of-the-art scientific methods to develop drought monitoring and outlook tools, provide training to stakeholders in the Pacific, and work with regional and national institutions in the region to co-develop drought risks in agriculture, water resource management, and food security. NOAA will further foster collaboration within the Pacific to enable effective planning to reduce the impacts of drought on the livelihood of people.

Kiribati, Solomon Islands, and Fiji are selected as pilot islands for this project.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati partners with Nauru Tourism on sustainable travel, destination marketing and exchange programs.

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The Minister of Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives affirms a partnership for Sustainable Tourism Development with Nauru Tourism during its meeting at the Consulate General office of Republic of Nauru in Brisbane on 31st May 2024.

The partnership meeting took place with the Consul General, Tourism Attache and Nauru Advisor at their Brisbane office. The meeting was in line with a partnership opportunity with the esteemed Governments to bolster the tourism industries in both Nauru and Kiribati and capitalizing on the existing Nauru Airlines fleet from Brisbane, Nauru, Tarawa as well as Kiritimati.

Both the countries believe that there are still so much untapped tourism potentials and have great opportunity to broaden the leisure adventure travellers seeking new destinations targeting the Australian market. At the moment, there is very little visitor travel for leisure using such route. Through collaborative efforts, Kiribati and Nauru through their respected Tourism Authorities, has potential in increasing sustainable travel to focus on niche attractions that it offers through joint marketing campaigns and exchange programs.

The only way this will work is through strong brotherhood partnership, the Honorable Minister Nauan says.

The meeting was facilitated in collaboration between the Tourism Authority of Kiribati and Nauru Tourism since the beginning of the year. It forms part of the Joint Micronesian Island hop Marketing Campaign with Nauru Airlines and supported by the Pacific Trade and Invest.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati Showcases ‘Come Visit Kiribati’ at South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2024

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is happy to announce that its Tourism Marketing team has just returned from participating at the South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2024 (SPTE2024) that took place on the 4th-5th May at Denarau, Sheraton Resort in Nadi, Fiji.

The SPTE2024 is a prestigious tourism trade meeting event (B2B) held annually and is organized by the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) to present a cost-effective platform for its Pacific Island partners to travel from all corners of the Pacific to meet at one location to exchange their exciting tourism products with international buyers from across the globe who are made up of international travel agents and tour operators who are also seeking and exploring new travel holiday products to promote with their clients in their foreign countries.

The Senior Marketing Officer from TAK, Mr. George Kum Kee indicated that at SPTE2024 the TAK Marketing team engaged with 59 travel industry professionals, tour operators, and media representatives to promote the country’s unique tourism offerings. The trade networking was held in 15-minute meeting intervals which were considerably very brief meeting encounters, however, most of the work will come after the SPTE event with a series of follow-throughs to provide the buyers with a Kiribati tourism destination information e-kit. The officer added that through networking events, business appointments, and destination presentations, Kiribati aims to increase awareness of its tourism potential and attract more visitors to its shores.

George emphasized that Kiribati’s presence at this prestigious event underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth and highlighting the promotion Kiribati’s niche tourism attractions. He added that, apart from the natural beauty of Sun, Sea & Sand that we all share similarly with our neighboring Pacific Islands, Kiribati participated in promoting its niche tourism experiences such as authentic cultural experiences through cultural community-based tourism activities, world-class fishing in Kiritimati Island, Scuba diving in Kiritimati Island, Birdwatching & wildlife tourism, and surfing Kiritimati & Fanning Island. The team shared the notion with the buyers that tourism in Kiribati is for specific travellers seeking off-the-beat & path adventure and authentic experiences like cultural encounters and experiencing aquatic marine activities. TAK therefore looks to forge new partnerships after this SPTE and looks forward to welcoming more visitors to Kiribati.

With its participation in the South Pacific Tourism Exchange 2024, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati aims to position the country as a must-visit destination in the South Pacific, inviting travellers to discover the magic of Kiribati’s islands and create lifelong memorable experiences.

TAK Presents Sustainable Tourism Initiatives at Blue Economies Workshop.

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The Acting CEO of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati Ms. Reeti Onorio had the opportunity to present on Sustainable Tourism as part of the International Workshop on Sustainable Blue Economies in Pacific Islands and Territories. The Workshop was held at a Convention Hall of the Hyatt Regency Guam from 20 – 21 March 2024 and was followed by a field visit on 22 March 2024 which was attended by participants representing various sectors from the Southern and Northern Pacific region as well as Forum Secretariat’s CROP agencies.

The sustainable blue economies encompass a wide range of sectors including not only fisheries, aquaculture, and marine conservation, but also marine pollution control, renewable energy, sustainable tourism, blue financing, leadership, and human resource development. The invited participants had the opportunity to share updates from their respective sectors on these themes and their latest progress and assessment concerning sustainable blue economies in the Pacific.

TAK had the privilege of sharing Kiribati’s actions on its recently launched Sustainable Tourism policy and Action Plan providing examples of sustainable tourism activities in line with marine ecosystem conservation such as flyfishing in Kiritimati Christmas Island and Community Based Tourism in line with Marine Protected Areas in the Kiribati outer islands.

The Workshop was hosted by the Centre for Island Sustainability, University of Guam (CIS-UoG) and co-organized by the CIS-UoG and the Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) with the support of the Centre for Pacific Islands Studies of the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and the East-West Centre.

The outcome of the Workshop will be shared appropriately at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in May 2024 whilst its 2nd preparatory committee meeting is to be held in April 2024 along with other relevant international meetings.

Rebranding of Destination Kiribati

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati has taken a big step this year to work towards building a new brand for Kiribati to change its current existing brand “Kiribati for Travellers.” The current destination brand was created in 2010 by the Kiribati National Tourism Office now TAK. The branding will be a key priority for TAK and it will work towards providing Kiribati with a new refreshed and exciting brand for the destination.

The purpose behind the rebranding is to ultimately give Kiribati a destination brand that resonates with the Kiribati people and their values, and it is aligned to key policies & strategies such as the Kiribati Vision 20 (KV20), the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy (KSTP) and TAK’s Strategic Plan.

TAK has already begun its first phase of the branding by conducting a series of consultations with local stakeholders (Local Tourism Operators, Government, and NGOs) which were conducted in the capital South Tarawa, and North Tarawa from the 4th to 11th of March whilst consultations on Kiritimati Island were also conducted from the 11th to 13th of March. The consultations were conducted with the expertise of Mr. Carl Solomon from Destination Marketing Store (DMS) who is working with TAK to develop the Market Analysis to build towards creating a Kiribati Branding Strategy.

This Rebranding project is funded through PSDI (Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative) a regional technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the Government of Australia, the Government of New Zealand, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Kiribati Tourism Embracing Advanced Digital Tourism

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati, in partnership with Pacific Trade Invest Australia, organized a one-day workshop on Advanced Digital Tourism on March 6th, 2024, held at the YCL Conference Room in Antebuka. The workshop aimed to enhance tourism businesses’ capabilities in online payment and direct booking solutions, empowering them to effectively tap into the international market by leveraging digital tools.

A total of 19 participants from various sectors attended the workshop, including 9 accommodation providers, 3 inbound tour operators, and 2 travel agencies. Among the notable accommodation providers were Nemat Resort, Mid-land Resort, Tabon Te Keekee Ecolodge, and two newly established accommodations, Lucky Future Lodge, and Southview Mini Resort on North Tarawa Island. In South Tarawa, Betio Lodge, the George Hotel, Fema Lodge, and Eniita Lodge participated. The workshop also saw the attendance of 3 inbound tour operators: Donna’s Tour, Molly’s Tour, and Terau Kiribati Travel.

The workshop comprised two sessions. The morning session included a PowerPoint presentation, focusing on various aspects of online booking and payment process. This was followed by one-on-one sessions in the afternoon, aimed at assisting operators interested in developing their own websites. Mr. Craig Smith, a consultant from PTI Australia, conducted one-on-one sessions with 6 accommodation providers and 1 tour operator, providing personalized guidance.

TAK’s assistance in providing relevant imagery and follow-up with operators is critical to the success of each participant’s capabilities in advancing digital tourism.