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KIRIBATI 2019 IVS REPORT RELEASED

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released its 2019 International Visitor Survey (IVS) Report.

International Visitors Survey 2019 was conducted over 12 months from March 2019 – March 2020, surveying international visitors departing from Bonriki International Airport in Tarawa and Cassidy International Airport in Kiritimati (Christmas Islands).

The IVS report is an important tool to understand international traveler psychology including motivations, customer spend, satisfaction, and demographics.

This report will be used by the Government of Kiribati (GoK) as a tool to effectively develop tourism policies including the implementation of tourism investment strategies consistent with market demands.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) hopes its private sector partners will find this report valuable to understanding their customers and align their products to travellers’ requirements. Likewise, local, and international tourism stakeholders and education institutions can use this IVS report to understand the business of tourism in the Kiribati context to help determine their contribution to sustainable tourism growth.

The IVS projects was funded by the European Union – Kiribati Corporation Office and supported by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO).

TAK preserves WWll relics

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Visitors to Tarawa can enjoy memorable battlefield tourism experiences when international flight resumes following the installation of awareness sign boards at the World War ll (WWII) Relics area at Takoronga point.

The ‘no littering & dumping; no open defecation; no camping; and no alcohol drinking’ sign boards aim to encourage visitors and locals to appreciate and preserve relics and sites at Takoronga which are of historical significance to Kiribati.

Tarawa was the forefront of the Allied forces Pacific campaign during WWII, and it is where the American forces invaded the then Japanese controlled islet of Betio. Known as the Battle of Tarawa, the invasion of Betio, it was one of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific in WWII. It was extremely costly in human lives and it was the first initial stage of a great amphibious landing against heavily fortified position on the tiny islet of Betio. The Battle of Tarawa was considered a huge mistake by the U.S Military but they soon realized and learnt that it was a valuable lesson that would help them in their strategic battle plans as they fought their way across the Pacific towards Japan.

The installation of the signage at Takoronga follows the extensive clean-up of the same site undertaken by the Takoronga community in early June 2020 and TAK will complete this with the installation of information kiosks to be mounted at the site in August 2020.

The Government of Kiribati in December 2019 endorsed that TAK take ownership and guardianship of all WWll relics.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati Celebrates 1st Anniversary

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated its 1st year anniversary with a quiet celebration at its head office in Betio, South Tarawa on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

In his welcome address, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau thanked the Government of Kiribati (GoK) for its vision in recognizing the potential tourism has for the economy and for the opportunity for TAK to lead the development and marketing of tourism in Kiribati.

The event was an opportunity for the organisation to celebrate its achievements in the last 12 months and share its strategies, particularly as current global COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact global travel.

Chief guest and Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development, Honourable Willie Tokataake reaffirmed the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) commitment to provide key supporting economic infrastructures that directly or indirectly support tourism development as reflected in Kiribati’s Vision for the next 20 Years (KV20). He added that the recent development and upgrading of outer island airports and key international ports on Tarawa, Christmas and Kanton underpin government strong desire to promote and develop tourism in the country.

Kiribati recorded a 19% increase in international visitors in 2019 and a 11% increase in the number of beds available in country. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a 60% decline in international visitor arrivals as at May 2020 and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati anticipates a greater decline due to continued travel restrictions.

In its ‘Reset Kiribati’ strategy, TAK will be implementing a series initiatives and activities aimed at addressing the needs of the new traveler post COVID-19. These include destination awareness on what TAK believes will be the ‘new normal’, tourism operator training, product update for international tour operators and niche focused digital marketing campaigns

PIPA TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

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The PIPA Tourism Advisory subcommittee (PTASC)met in 21 May to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development in Kanton and other potential areas in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).

Chaired by PIPA Implementation Office (PIO), PTASC is made up of stakeholder representatives from Tourism, Lands, Culture, and the Commerce Ministry.

Once finalised, the RFP will be an invitation to potential investors to consider sustainable tourism development in PIPA. The RFP is based on Kanton, Orona and Nikumaroro, the island believed to be final resting place of aviator Amelia Earhart.

The next meeting to finalize the draft Request Proposal Document is scheduled to the 2nd week of June 2020.

KIRITIMATI TOURISM AWARENESS PROGRAM

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TAK Kiritimati through support from the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development conducted its Annual Tourism Awareness Program to all primary schools and Junior Secondary school between 29 April to 15 May 2020.

The main purpose of the awareness was to educate students on the importance and benefits of tourism in Kiritimati. The program targeted year 6 and year 9 students in the 3 primary schools and 1 Junior Secondary School.

The school awareness program coincides with the inclusion of tourism in the year 9 curriculum from 2020 and TAK will continue to look at other creative ways to engage students into thinking more seriously about tourism as a contributor to economic development and social well-being.

TAK will undertake more awareness programs during the upcoming Independence Day celebration and World Tourism Day.

ABEMAMA FLY FISHING ASSESSMENT AND AGRITOURISM CONSULTATION

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A team of three (3) officials, assembled by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), conducted their second fly-fishing exploratory assessment in Abemama on the 5th to 15th May 2020. The team’s main task was to undertake a follow-up assessment of the initial exploratory assessment conducted back in 2018. This assessment is to conclude whether Abemama is qualified to be developed as a game-fishing destination or requires more time.

The assessment was conducted within eight days, with only a few tailings of bonefish in the shallows which indicated that bonefish was threatened as a result of heavy fishing and over-exploitation. The team was also able to scout the lagoon areas from the sky with the aid of an aerial drone, but there were no bonefish schools spotted. This issue seems to be unpromising for Abemama, regarding ecotourism development and fly-fishing tourism.

Bonefish on the island is scarce due to heavy netting pressure affecting the fish stock, making it hard to sight the bonefish as compared to the flats on Kiritimati and Fanning in the Line islands. The team recommended future development at Abemama, involving regeneration and protection of the bonefish stock through appropriate bye-laws, during aggregation and spawn seasons, not just for bonefish but for other marine finfish as well. Establishing marine protected areas were also encouraged but these initiatives lie within the various community leaders and the Island Council.

Due to flight issues, the team extended their trip and was able to conduct consultation sessions, with Abemama Green Hotel, Chevalier College, Reina Village, Kiribati Uniting Church at Tabiang, Island Council Piggery Farm, Uarokoan te Kabwaia Incorporate Society from Tebanga Village, and Mwanoku Catholic Seminary, promoting Agritourism. This consultation aimed to improve food-security, and linking agriculture with local accommodation providers in using agriculture into business, landscape, and the beautification of the marine and land environments thus enhancing food security in the context of climate change.

Although the fly fishery assessment was not quite a success, the consultation of the Agritourism program was much more promising for Abemama island.

The trip was supported by the Food Security Project, commonly known as the LDCF-1 which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP and managed by the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under the MELAD

    

NEW INTEGRATED LAND USE PLAN FOR KIRITIMATI

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The Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands hosted a launching ceremony on Friday 1st May 2020, to mark the official completion of the New Integrated Land Use Plan for Kiritimati Island. Minister for the Line & Phoenix Hon. Mikarite Temari officiate this launching ceremony declaring the completion of this very important plan on behalf of the Government.

The Honourable Minister stressed the importance of this plan as a guideline for land use management to control, prevent and legislate such developments to refrain Kiritimati Island from confronting issues that is now currently been experienced by South Tarawa due to overpopulation and unplanned developments.

He added that the implementation of the plan would also help in achieving the Government vision for 20 years (KV20) on tourism developments.

With the plan confirming potential tourism sites, TAK Kiritimati will work with the Lands Division, Wildlife and Conservation Division, Fisheries and MLPID to regulate and manage these sites.

The event was also attended by the Mayor to Kiritimati Urban Council, Church leaders and communities on the island, Parliament representatives from Kiritimati and Teraina Islands and government officials. The program ended with a tour of the ILUP maps displayed on the notice board. END

KIRITIMATI CLEANING AND GARDENING CAMPAIGN

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26th May 2020: The Kiritimati Cleaning and Gardening Campaign is a new program developed by Senior officials of the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development, Government Agency Office’s (GAOs) and State Own Enterprises (SOEs) on Kiritimati island.

Supported by the Hon. Minister, this initiative encourages employees and the people of Kiritimati to learn and understand the purpose and significance of cleaning and gardening in the society.

The Kiritimati Cleaning and Gardening Campaign is led by 8 offices from different sectors in Kiritimati and SOEs. These include Tourism Authority of Kiribati, Immigration Office, Kiribati Insurance Corporation, Education Office, Kiribati Post Office, Tax Office, Customs Office and ANZ Bank of Kiribati at MLPID building complex block.

The program was established with the objective to help each other to maintain the front and back yard of the building complex block to be clean and green.

TAK Kiritimati also used this opportunity to clean and maintain visitor sites in London.

The program was implemented in early 2020 and is scheduled every Friday.

TOURISM INCLUDED IN 2020 CENSUS

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26th May 2020:  For the first time, the population of Kiribati will be asked for their views on tourism through the national census to be carried out later this year. This was made possible through the support of the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The tourism component of the 2020 Census questionnaire is aimed at obtaining people’s perception on tourism and their understanding on the current and possible benefits of tourism in their respective households and community.

The Research and Statistics division of TAK used the NSO 2020 Census Workshop at Antebuka on 11 May 2020 to update the population census enumerators with the tourism section of the survey and attended to questions raised by the enumerators.

TAK hopes that the census responses will provide greater insight into the communities’ perceptions of tourism. Such information will allow TAK to target awareness, training, and development projects to those communities that require them, particularly where greater understanding of tourism is minimal.

The 2020 National Census will commence on 7th November 2020.

GoK launches COVID-19 response website

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The Government of Kiribati (GoK) has launched a website dedicated to centralising the dissemination of COVID-19 information. www.covid19.gov.ki

The aim of the website is to provide a COVID-19 information hub with up to date, accurate and official information about the pandemic as approved by the Ministry Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

In addition to the general situation brief, the page also includes other government advisories on Coronavirus including civil servants, education, commodities and safety and enforcement.

I-Kiribati nationals currently stranded overseas due to flight restrictions can also refer to the website for official advise on GoK funding assistance.

TAK recommends that the website be used as the only source of COVID-19 information for residents and travellers to reduce the likelihood of rumours that may cause unnecessary panic amongst the people.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati is responsible for working with our partners to encourage travelers to come to Kiribati and spend time exploring our country.

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