Meeting & Conference – Kaongora Newsletter

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

November 8, 2024November 8, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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

October 1, 2024October 1, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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

August 9, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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.

July 2, 2024July 2, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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

May 14, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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.

April 5, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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

March 14, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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

March 14, 2024 by Taare Rikiai

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.

Kiribati participates in China International Import Expo 2023

December 1, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) led the Kiribati delegation to the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) 2023 at the CIIE National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, China from 05 – 10 November 2023. This marked Kiribati’s first every participation in the event which was hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government.

CIIE is renowned as China’s premier trade event providing a unique platform for countries such as Kiribati to showcase their products, explore business opportunities, and engage in dialogue on key economic and trade potentials. Kiribati’s participation is a testament to the nation’s dedication to expanding its economic horizons and strengthening diplomatic ties with China.

This event marks a new chapter in Kiribati’s engagement with China on a global scale and underscores the country’s commitment to fostering international trade, tourism, and cooperation.

Kiribati’s participation not only symbolizes its commitment to global trade in fish and coconut products with China but also presented a unique opportunity to bolster its tourism sector through promoting Kiribati as a tourism & travel destination for the Chinese travel market through its products.

The participation at the 6th CIIE was coordinated by the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC) and the delegation was made up of representative officials from TAK, Kiribati Coconut Development Ltd (KCDL) and Central Pacific Producers Ltd (CPPL). Kiribati Fish Ltd (KFL), a joint venture with the Kiribati government, Shanghai Deep Sea Fishery and Golden Ocean Fish Ltd also participated in CIIE playing a significant role in the official launching of their Kiribati fish products during the 6 days CIIE trade event.

TAK Supports 3rd PNA Leaders’ Summit

October 31, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati actively supported planning and preparatory work for the 3rd Party to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Leaders’ Summit, led by the Ministry of Fisheries and Resource Development, which took place on Kiritimati Island on October 26, 2023

The meeting centered on pressing concerns, including the sustainability of fisheries, climate resilience, and the promotion of sustainable development, demonstrating a strong dedication to the well-being of the Pacific region.

TAK took this opportunity to promote Kiritimati as the largest coral atoll in the world, a renowned fly-fishing destination, and the home of some of the world’s endangered seabirds.

The office in Kiritimati was also tasked in the allocation of rooms for the PNA delegations and organize tours and activities for leaders and their spouses and head of delegations. These tours and activities included fly fishing, birdwatching, and an island tour.

The leaders and their delegations had the opportunity to experience fly fishing, and each were accompanied by some of Kiritimati Island best fishing guides. Spouses got to enjoy a two-day tour program which included birdwatching, meeting the Island Women’s Association known as Nei Baneawa and touring the world’s largest coral atoll from Ronton Village to Paris. Delegates also toured the Solar Salt Company as part of their half day tour.

The Summit has given Kiritimati international recognition through the ‘Kiritimati Communique’, and TAK hopes that such an exposure will yield tourism advantages in the coming years.

Tourism Authority Kiribati