Press Releases – Page 6 – Kaongora Newsletter

TAK welcomes Digital Marketing Support Officer

August 9, 2021July 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Kylie Petersen as its volunteer digital marketing support officer through the Australian Volunteers Program, funded by the Australian Government.

Ms. Peterson is a senior marketing and communications professional within local government working on economic development, city branding and community engagement projects. She is currently employed as an Account Officer with the City of Gold Coast and previously held the positions of Senior City Marketing Officer and Business Gold Coast Marketing Officer for the same organisation.

As the digital marketing support officer, Ms. Petersen will work with the Marketing and Promotions Division of TAK to develop its digital marketing strategy which will be an integral part of the organisation’s tourism recovery and reset strategy.

The Australian Volunteers Program matches a broad range of skilled Australians with partner organisations in the Indo-Pacific region, to support them achieve their own development goals and has a branch located on South Tarawa, Kiribati.

Ms. Petersen commenced in her support role on 05 July 2021 and TAK is grateful to the Australian Volunteers Program for its support and looks forward to a rewarding partnership.

NZTRI conducts workshop on data analysis

July 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) conducted a virtual workshop on Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) for the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) and Planning Division of the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) on 21 July 2021.

This was a third of a series of capacity building workshops on online survey design, distribution, collection, and data analysis and is part of Phase 2 of the Pacific Tourism Data Initiative (PTDI) funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT).

The goal of the PTDI is to increase evidence-based tourism decision making in the Pacific with a view to strengthening sustainable economic development.

The participants were taken through the basics of SPSS interface to understand how to use SPSS and perform tasks such as data cleaning and transforming variables.

The SPSS workshop was a follow on from workshops 1 in April 2021 (Designing Surveys) and 2 in May 2021 (Online survey software – Qualtrics).

TAK Welcome Mr & Miss Kiribati 2021

July 29, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) hosted the newly crowned Miss Kiribati, Teitirake Teanoa, and Mr. Kiribati, Uriam Amoone to a Kiribati Tourism Industry update and morning tea at its head office in Takoronga on Wednesday 28 July 2021.

The duo were winners of the 2021 Kiribati Pageant held on 10 July 2021, which coincided with Kiribati’s 42 National Independence Celebration.

As representatives of Kiribati, TAK took the opportunity to brief Ms. Teanoa and Mr. Amoone on the work of the Tourism Authority and also discussed opportunities for collaboration, in particular, sustainable tourism marketing and promotion.

Miss Kiribati is also passionate about environmental conservation and will work with TAK to advocate for proper waste disposal practices at all levels including communities. Mr. Kiribati on the other hand is an aspiring sign language interpreter and will work with TAK to advocate for tourism awareness to the deaf society in Kiribati and in tourism source markets.

The event was also attended by the organizing committee of the Kiribati pageant and major sponsor of the event, the Shipping Agency of Kiribati (SAOK).

Kiribati Tourism Covid-19 Safety Protocols Online Toolkit launched

July 19, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) today launched the online toolkit for the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal, the country’s COVID-19 safety protocols for tourism and hospitality operators.

Since the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal, TAK has delivered 2-days in person COVID-19 protocol training for South and North Tarawa tourism operators. Similar trainings are planned for operators in Kiritimati and other outlying islands in the Line and Phoenix group.

These trainings have helped tourism operators understand the important role they play in ensuring the safety of their guests and staffs once borders reopen. However, without a definite border reopening date, it is important that tourism operators continue to update themselves on COVID-19 safety protocol. It is for this reason that the online toolkit has been developed to allow for easy access to safety information by tourism operators and to guide them towards becoming COVID-19 safety compliant once Kiribati’s international borders reopen.

In addition to detailed safety procedures, the toolkit also includes printable COVID-19 safety protocol posters and flyers and employee training information. TAK is also developing a COVID-19 destination safety video which will be made available via the toolkit once completed.

The Kiribati Tourism Protocols for the New Normal was developed through consultation with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), World Health Organisation (WHO), relevant government ministries, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (KCCI), tourism operators, and local training institutions and was funded through the Economic Recovery Grant of the US Embassy in Suva, Fiji

Culture and Senior Citizens celebrated in Kiribati.

July 15, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) joined te Beretitenti, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, government and diplomatic dignitaries and community elders at the National Cultural and Senior Citizen Day celebration on 09 July 2021 at the Sports Complex in Betio. The event was part of the 2021 Kiribati independence celebration and was organized by the Cultural and Museum Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). This year’s theme was ‘Sustainable Empowerment to Future Prosperity through our Indigenous Culture and Knowledge’.

The event included a costume show depicting the evolution of Kiribati clothing and attire over the past century. Categories included fisherman wear, a Babai bit farmer wear, casual wear, and dance costumes. This show presented a unique look into the important roles that our senior citizens played as custodians of the Kiribati culture and how they have passed their traditional knowledge and skills down to the present generation.

The event also involved local stakeholders, traditional artisans and related government ministries coming together to showcase their skills and the opportunity to trade their unique crafts and wares.

TAK’s 2019 International Visitor Survey (IVS) identified culture as one of the top 3 attractions for travel to Kiribati. In response to this, the organisation has begun numerous initiatives to help develop cultural and community-based tourism across selected island communities to help ensure that the Kiribati experience continues to be culturally enriching for the avid traveler.

TAK released Abemama Island Tourism Perception Survey Report

June 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released its report on the Outer Island Perception Survey (OIPS)for Abemama Island.

The survey was conducted to gauge islander’s perception on tourism development in Abemama and identify growth opportunities that TAK and relevant stakeholders could consider for the island destination.

Data were collected through a series of interviews with locals in March 2021. The respondents’ ages ranged from 20-70 years with a gender split of 60% female and 40% male.

The survey measured income from tourism products sold as well as tourism activities and attractions that islanders felt were available to visitors.

This report also aims to identify any gaps in the tourism sector on Abemama and for TAK, the local island council and communities to work together to bridge these gaps and present Abemama to the world as a truly unique tourism destination.

This is the 3^rd report of its kind after North Tarawa and Banaba and similar surveys will be conducted for other outer Gilbert islands.

Kiribati COVID-19 Tourism Protocol Training Begins

October 6, 2021June 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has begun its Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal training for hotel and tourism service operators across the islands.

Developed through consultation with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), World Health Organisation (WHO), relevant government ministries, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce, and Industry (KCCI), tourism operators, and local training institutions, the protocols provide Kiribati tourism and hospitality operators detailed COVID-19 operational safety guidelines.

Whilst there is no definitive schedule on when Kiribati’s international borders will re-open, the protocols are based on possible re-opening scenarios with safety procedures to protect visitors, tourism businesses and the public from COVID-19.

Conducted on the back of the Kiribati’s vaccination program, the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal includes tourism COVID-19 safety protocols for transport, hotel & accommodation, restaurant & bars, employee safety and waste disposal. The Kiribati vaccination program forecasts 20% of the nation’s population to receive their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of August 2021

North & South Tarawa hotels were the first to undergo the 2 days training, and participants are now certified to conduct COVID-19 safety for their respective employees. TAK will deliver the same training for tourism operators in Abaiang and Kiritimati in the coming days whilst training for the rest of the Gilbert and Line islands are scheduled for later in the year.

The program is funded through the Economic Recovery Grant of the US Embassy in Suva, Fiji and is co-managed by TAK and KCCI.

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Clean environment and preservation vital for tourism.

June 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The beauty and cleanliness of the natural environment and its historical landmarks is one of the many influences for travel to a destination. In recognition of this, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated its 2^nd anniversary through a collaborating with the Betio Town Council (BTC) and its communities to conduct a Betio island-wide clean-up of all World War 2 relics in June.

The initiative offered Betio communities a sense of guardianship of these WWll 2 relics and encouraged them to understand the value of maintaining cleanliness of their environment and preserving what remains of an integral part of the island’s history.

Three communities were engaged in this activity over a 4-week period. Each developed their own program and schedule and was supported by TAK through the supply cleaning materials and refreshments.

The program concluded with an inspection of all sites by TAK and BTC on 10 June 2021 to select the most presentable site. The program was also supported by the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under Ministry of Environment Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) and Betio Island Council.

TAK recognises that such a program is crucial to the development of sustainable tourism across Kiribati and that it is aligned to the destination’s tourism recovery strategy.

Kiribati Tourism Industry Review Q1 2021 Report

June 11, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati has released the Kiribati Tourism Industry Review for the first quarter of 2021.

The report brings together data from various sources of information and TAK wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services; Air Kiribati Limited; Marine Guard; Immigration department and the tourism operators and accommodations that supplied data for the purpose of this report.

Employment in the tourism industry continued to drop from the previous quarter falling a further 33% in Q1 2021. Room and bed numbers also dropped by 15% and 20% respectively.

Domestic travel also experienced drops with 4% decline in maritime travel and 57% decline in air travel.

Other tourism related data are also presented such as tourism employment broken down by gender, most visited outer islands, and repatriation numbers for Q1 2021.

Click Here to download a copy of the report.

TAK reflects on its 2-year journey.

July 14, 2021June 11, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated its 2^nd anniversary on 10 June 2021. To commemorate this occasion, TAK management and staffs reflected on the journey that the organisation has taken since opening office in 2019 followed by a cake cutting ceremony at its Takoronga office in Betio, South Tarawa.

Through the support of the Government of Kiribati (GoK) and the Kiribati 20-year Vision (KV20), tourism was recognised for its potential to stimulate economic development, provide employment, income generation as well as support the retention of cultural traditions, sustainable management of natural environmental assets and wider contribution towards socio-economic benefits. This led to the development of the Kiribati Tourism Act 2018, which made way for the establishment of the Tourism Authority in June 2019.

The COVID-19 travel restrictions which came into effect in late March 2020 put a halt to international tourism for Kiribati. This challenged TAK to look at the immediate needs of the local tourism stakeholders in light of the drop in business and to prepare the industry for the resumption of travel post COVID-19.

Since then, TAK launched its Mauri Experience promotion, a campaign targeted at domestic tourism. The organisation also engaged with regional and international stakeholders to deliver a series of capacity building and online training programs for tourism operators.

In late 2020, TAK participated in the Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative program through the Pacific Tourism Organisation. This saw the organisation win the Best Strategy in Creative Tourism Development awards at the 2020 International Creative Tourism Network Awards.

TAK acknowledges that the current international travel restrictions are an opportune time to reevaluate the destination’s strategic direction and a smart and sustainable restart to tourism is high on its priorities. To this effect, the organisation has commenced work on the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework which will form the basis of its proposed National Tourism Recovery program.

The organisation has also completed the development of the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal funded through the US Economic Recovery Grant. The COVID-19 safety protocols are a guide for Kiribati tourism business operators and training will commence from 17 June 2021.

Whilst there is still uncertainty on when international tourism will resume in Kiribati, TAK will continue into its third year of operation with the commitment to using this quiet time to help strengthen capacity throughout the industry. It is also set to establish industry standards based on sustainable tourism values, build new rewarding regional and international partnerships and guide Kiribati to embrace the new normal in tourism as it prepares to welcome back travellers in the future.

Tourism Authority Kiribati