Meeting & Conference – Page 2 – Kaongora Newsletter

TAK Hosts Strategic Plan Consultation Workshop

April 14, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) hosted a one-day stakeholder consultation workshop for the development of the organisation’s 2023 – 2025 Strategic Plan on Thursday 13 April 2023 at the Marine Training Centre (MTC) in Betio, South Tarawa.

Attended by representatives from Government, State Owned Enterprises (SOE), Tourism Operators and Non-Government Organisations (NGO), the workshop presented TAK the opportunity to share its new set of draft strategic priorities with its stakeholder partners.

The workshop also allowed for valuable input from stakeholders on how TAK can better serve the industry and to be better equipped to support the Government of Kiribati’s KV20 aspirations for increased economic contribution through tourism.

Participants were also introduced to the first draft of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Indicators; a set of tools that will support TAK to measure the destination’s sustainable tourism goals.

TAK’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan development is supported through technical support from the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI). This project is scheduled to be completed with the strategic plan launch in July 2023.

TAK participates in China Trade & Tourism Mission

April 3, 2023April 3, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in a China Trade & Tourism Mission led by the Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan from 19 – 27 March 2023.

With the support of the Embassy of China in Tarawa, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau accompanied the high-level trade delegation on bilateral discussions and visits to key tourism sites in Hainan and Guangdong Provinces.

A key highlight of the mission was the visit to China’s premier beach destination, Sanya, located on the southern tip on Hainan Island in the South China Sea.

The government in Sanya, Hainan province, has laid out 117 key projects to turn the city into a national leading tourist destination with great international influence, and to promote the high-quality development of local and sustainable tourism.

Through this engagement, the delegation were introduced to concepts of marine, agriculture and culture-based tourism for tropical small island destinations where community remains an integral part of sustainable tourism development.

TAK is in the process of developing Kiribati’s sustainable tourism indicators and its sustainable tourism action plan and experiences from this mission have helped highlight new areas of focus for the destination.

China represents an opportunity for organised group travel to Kiribati. With resumption of travel from mainland China, TAK, through its Memorandum of Understanding with the China Tourism Academy (CTA), will soon begin delivering its China Market Ready programme and capacity development initiatives for local tourism operators.

Kiribati hosts first post COVID-19 International meeting

September 5, 2022September 1, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Government of Kiribati (GoK) through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development (MFMRD) hosted the Forum Fisheries Agency’s Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) meeting in Tarawa from 20 – 27 August 2022.

This was the first international meeting hosted in the country following Kiribati border re-opening on 01 August 2022. The event welcomed delegates and representatives from 17 Pacific member countries including Australia and New Zealand.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) recognises the FFC meeting as Kiribati’s initial introduction to the new normal in international post COVID-19 meetings and conferences market. Given the success of the event, TAK envisages that more regional and international meetings can be hosted in Kiribati, now that international travel is returning to normalcy.

TAK was also part of the organizing committee for this high-level meeting and collaborated with local inbound operator Kiribati Holidays for delegate activities.

The event has also been a great opportunity for local accommodation providers to boost their revenue through rooms revenue, food & beverage services and other activities.

Kiritimati WASH Policy to benefit Tourism

September 2, 2022August 31, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Kiritimati WASH Policy development workshop on 16 and 17 August 2022 provided the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) officers in Kiritimati an excellent opportunity to better understand the importance of water and sanitation in tourism.

The workshop discussed opportunities to improve access to water and sanitation services on the island. TAK views the improvement in hygiene practices as essential to helping tourism businesses achieve 100% compliance to COVID-19 health and safety protocols once the island’s border reopens.

TAK’s participation in the review and drafting of the WASH Action Plan and Budget at the workshop also provided the tourism officers a better understanding of how it can assist tourism business operators implement key recommendations of the WASH policy once finalised.

It is envisaged that the Kiritimati WASH policy will support tourism in Kiritimati Island as it will encourage the water conservation system for all tourism business operators.

The Kiritimati WASH policy will aim to provide a framework that will improve access to water and sanitation services and to change hygienic practices in Kiritimati.

The workshop was hosted by the Kiritimati Urban Council, facilitated by the Kiribati Local Government Association (KILGA) and is funded by Wash project in Kiritimati, with financial assistance from the European Union and New Zealand government.

TAK Plans for 2022

January 3, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Board of Directors, Management and staffs underwent a 2-day retreat to review its 2021 workplan outcomes and finalise the organisation’s 2022 workplan at Tabon Te Keekee Eco Lodge in Abatao North Tarawa from 28 – 30 December 2021.

The retreat presented TAK the opportunity to measure its performance in 2021 and assess and acknowledge lessons learnt from what has been described as another challenging year for international travel and tourism.

Through the participation of its Board of Directors, TAK was also able to review its strategic priorities based on the provisions of the Kiribati Tourism Act 2018.

The retreat also allowed TAK and its Board of Directors to extensively discuss Kiribati’s Tourism Restart Program and how the organisation’s 2022 workplan must be aligned to achieving the destinations reopening priorities.

In her closing remarks, Board Chairperson, Ms Aako Teikake congratulated TAK management and staffs on their diligence throughout 2021 and encouraged the team to remain focused on the deliverables set out for 2022.

South Tarawa Marketing Consultation

March 22, 2021March 19, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its first marketing consultation with South Tarawa Operators on Thursday 11 March 2021.

The consultation is part of the TAK’s Recovery Marketing Plan development program and was also an opportunity to gather updated product information and discuss issues that are important to operators during these challenging times.

Feedback received from the consultation included the positive impact the Mauri Experience campaign has had in stimulating demand in the local market. Operators acknowledged that it (campaign) continues to create awareness on their special offers and generate bookings to their properties.

Through this consultation, TAK has also identified some immediate training and marketing needs for select operators and actions are being taken to address them.

The consultations also gave TAK the opportunity to discuss the training component for the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal and its reset program. This will play an integral part in preparing the tourism industry for when the Government of Kiribati approves border reopening.

TAK will continue its marketing consultations in Kiritimati and the outer islands before developing and implementing its Recovery Marketing Plan.

Tourism a Priority for Kiribati

February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

Tourism remains a priority for the Government of Kiribati. This was revealed at the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) Ministry Strategic Plan(MSP) retreat at the Nemat Lodge in Buariki, North Tarawa on Saturday 30 January 2021.

The retreat was organized by the MICTTD Planning and Research Division and included all Heads of Departments in the ministry and CEO’s and senior managers of State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) under the ministry.

In opening the retreat, Minister for MICTTD, Honourable Tekeeua Tarati acknowledged the enormous task that his ministry has in working towards fulfilling the ambitions of the Kiribati 20-Year Vision (KV20).

One key driver of the economic growth envisioned by the Government of Kiribati is tourism and this is reflected in the new Motinnano (Manifesto) which has set a range of tourism development activities that the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is required to implement.

Objectives in the new Motinnano for tourism include the development of sustainable ecotourism, focusing on niche products, the establishment of tourism zones in the Line and Gilbert Islands, development of Kanton in the Phoenix islands and selected islands in the Line and Gilbert group for high end tourism development, and the development of Tabuaeran (Fanning island) as a world class surfing destination.

TAK presented its 4-year implementation plan at the MSP meeting in Buariki and has commenced the structured roll out of its plans.

TAK & KiriCAN discuss Collaboration Opportunities

October 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) met with the Kiribati Climate Action Network (KiriCAN) on 13 October 2020 to discuss opportunities for collaboration between the two organisations.

KiriCAN is the mother organisation for climate change and resilience NGO’s in Kiribati and is well recognised for developing effective climate change mitigation initiatives through agriculture and environmental conservation.

For over 10 years, KiriCAN has been worked with over 700 communities around Kiribati including South Tarawa and other Gilbert island to build resilient initiatives against the impact of climate change. Their activities include capacity building on agricultural skills and techniques to maximize the production, soap making (noni and charcoal), farming healthy greens (organic culinary) and nutritious foods, noni juice, and antibiotics.

The KiriCAN promotes a resilient Kiribati through local adaptation measures as well as a mind-set that will train the local I-Kiribati citizens that climate change is not a threat but an opportunity to learn more on how to survive with it and what are alternatives that can generates revenue.

TAK acknowledges the opportunities KiriCAN presents for the development of responsible and agritourism niche products through community engagement and both organisations seek to explore these potentials further.

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.

Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Covid Protocol Workshop

October 15, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) conducted the first consultation workshop for the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocol for the New Normal on Friday 09 October 2020 at the Utirerei Motel.

Funded through the US Embassy of Fiji’s Economic Recovery Project Grant to KCCI, the consultation workshop is part of a wider Reset Strategy which aims to prepare Kiribati for the new normal in tourism.

The consultation workshop brought together representatives from relevant government organisations, experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Kiribati Red Cross Society and tourism business operators from across Tarawa.

A key outcome of the consultation workshop was the compilation of suggested Covid-19 travel safety protocols for accommodation, transport, restaurant, and bar service providers. These suggested protocols will be used to develop the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocol for the New Normal.

TAK and KCCI will undertake a similar consultation workshop in Kiritimati, following which the protocol document will be finalised and tourism operator training conducted before the end of 2020.

Tourism Authority Kiribati