Press Releases – Page 7 – Kaongora Newsletter

Domestic travel resumes in Kiribati.

June 7, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The President of the Republic of Kiribati, His Excellency Taneti Maamau announced on Friday 04 June 2021 the lifting of the 9pm – 6am curfew and the resumption of domestic travel from South Tarawa from Monday 07 June 2021.

In his press statement, the President acknowledged the people for their support, respect, and patience throughout the two-weeks curfew period. He extended his gratitude to the frontline workers and the relevant authorities who work hard tirelessly to help protect Kiribati from COVID-19 and the public for their cooperation in following the standard operating procedures and guidelines.

President Maamau confirmed that Kiribati’s two COVID-19 patients are recovering well in their isolation centre.

While it will be business as usual from Monday 07 June 2021 in South Tarawa, the public is been advised to continuously observe and exercise health guidelines, by continuing hand wash with soap, maintain social distancing, continue the wearing masks and to refrain from social gatherings.

Tourism Authority welcomes Kiribati COVID-19 Vaccination.

May 31, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomes the commencement of the Kiribati COVID-19 vaccination program now under way in South Tarawa. Kiribati received its first batch of 24,000 vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility on Tuesday 25 May 2021 and commenced vaccination on Wednesday 26 May 2021.

The vaccines will be prioritized and provided to 20% of the population. These include frontline and essential workers, the vulnerable and older citizens who stand a higher risk to contracting COVID-19.

Local physician, Dr. Tabutoa Eria became the first I-Kiribati to be vaccinated. Upon receiving his jab, Dr. Tabutoa commented “this vaccine is so important as it will protect our communities and prevent further impact of this deadly virus. As health care workers, we are being vaccinated to protect our families and those who are most at risk”.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) have completed the vaccination of all front-line workers in South Tarawa and has begun vaccinating border control and essential service workers in Betio, Bairiki and Bonriki.

TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau has welcomed the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines stating that it is an essential step to protecting the people of Kiribati against the pandemic and to preparing the island nation for international tourism. He added that the Tourism Authority of Kiribati will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to prepare the destination for a smarter and more sustainable restart to tourism once the Government of Kiribati (GoK) opens its borders.

Curfew order issued for South Tarawa and Betio

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 by George Kumkee

The Government of Kiribati (GoK), through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services’ (MHMS) Public Health Infectious Disease regulation (regulation 17 & 22) issued a curfew order for South Tarawa and Betio effective from Thursday 20 May 2021. The curfew is effective from 9pm – 6am daily and will remain until further order is issued by GoK. This comes after Kiribati registered its first 2 cases of Covid-19 in quarantine earlier this week.

The order requires that all persons must remain at their home of residence from 9pm to 6am daily. This means that activities like night fishing, and social gatherings are prohibited, and Kava bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and bingo centres will be closed. Only persons seeking medical, police or fire emergency services will be excused from movement within the curfew hours. All Church leaders have also been advised to plan for their church services/ prayers and to ensure that they comply with all social distancing requirements.

All arms of government (government agencies) and private businesses have been instructed to maintain their operations as usual outside of the curfew hours and to avoid restrictions on sale of goods that would cause the public to panic. Only essentials service providers are allowed to operate during the curfew hours with prior approval from the Office of the Beretitenti (OB) through the Kiribati Police Service.

AII travels from South Tarawa and Betio to the outer islands and vice versa are currently suspended. Only goods, fuels, medicines, and patients’ referrals will be allowed. Travels other than those mentioned here will require the approval of the Secretary of the OB.

The curfew order does not impact the Tourism Authority of Kiribati’s (TAK) daily operational hours and tourism business operators in the affected areas are encouraged to contact TAK should they require clarification on the curfew order. All planned TAK events are currently suspended until further notice.

TAK undertakes Tourism Perception Survey in Marakei

May 21, 2021 by George Kumkee

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati’s (TAK) Research & Statistics Division recently conducted a tourism scoping mission on the island of Marakei, to ascertain potential for tourism development. The island is located just a 20-minute flight from Bonriki International Airport.

In addition to consultation with government officials and council members, TAK used the scoping mission to carry out an Outer Islands Perceptions Survey (OIPS) in the island’s 8 villages. The aim of the OIPS is to gauge the islander’s perceptions on tourism and to understand how they feel towards the vision of tourism positively adding value to the island’s economic, socio-cultural, and natural environment. The survey also aims to identify tourism perception gaps at the community level and the results will be used as a guide by TAK and relevant stakeholders that plan to undertake tourism development initiatives on the island.

Whilst on Marake, TAK also conducted a Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS) with the two accommodation providers on the island; Rawannawi Catholic Parish Guesthouse and the Island Council Guesthouse. The TBIS survey is an important means for TAK to gather operational information from accommodation providers to assist the organisation in its marketing and promotions, training, and product development programme.

The team also conducted the GPS mapping of historical sites, shrines and other tourism attractions which will be incorporated in the island’s new tourism map.

TAK explores eco-tourism opportunities on Marakei

May 20, 2021 by George Kumkee

Situated 70km north west of Tarawa, the island of Marakei is the only enclosed atoll in the Gilbert group of Islands in Kiribati. The island is well-known for its babai (swamp taro) and its local oyster, te rabino while the people of Marakei are celebrated for their traditional dancing skills such as the te bino and te kaimatoa.

The relative proximity of Marakei to Bonriki International Airport, the urban centres of South Tarawa, its rich cultural history and unique island geography presents the island with the potential for ecotourism development.

To explore these potentials, the Product Development team of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) undertook a scoping mission on the island in early May 2021.

In collaboration with the Marakei Island Council, TAK conducted an ecotourism awareness consultation and presentation to all its councillors and community representatives. This was met with enthusiasm with the councillors agreeing to the establishment of a Marakei Tourism Development Committee. Once formalised, the committee will work with TAK to deliver tourism product development, capacity building, and marketing and promotion for the island.

Whilst on Marakei, TAK also used the opportunity to update the island’s two accommodation providers on the progress of the revamped Mauri Mark Accredication Program. The revamped Mauri Mark Accreditation Program will be the national tourism business quality accreditation program for Kiribati. This program will rate accommodation, restaurant and bars, tourism leisure crafts and dive operators based on their compliance to relevant industry safety and service standards.

TAK leads joint beach clean-up

May 30, 2021May 12, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati Islands (TAK) led a Betio beach clean-up at the Takoronga Dai Nippon Causeway with representatives from the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport & Tourism Development (MICTTD) and the Kiribati Islands Conservation Society (KICS) on Friday 07 May 2021.

KICS is a non-government organisation with the vision that all I-Kiribati live in a clean and healthy environment where natural resources and unique cultures are preserved and protected. It works with communities to help enhance the natural environment of Kiribati.

The clean-up was part of TAk’s contribution and support for the Environment Conservation Division’s (ECD) Betio Anti-Litter Enforcement May 2021 Campaign.

Whilst plastic waste washing up on Betio’s white sandy beaches continue to be an eyesore, TAK believes that such a waste also poses a threat to the marine species and organisms that inhabit our beaches and coastline. TAK is therefore committed to supporting the ECD, relevant stakeholders and communities to improve solid waste management practices in Kiribati and to ultimately improve international visitor experiences through clean and pristine natural environment.

A total of 37 bags of plastic waste were collected from the 1-hour beach clean-up and participants were treated to refreshments compliments of KICS.

TAK plans to continue to organise similar clean ups in areas of visitor appeal and welcomes the support of organisation and communities who share in the same vision of a cleaner Kiribati.

Tourism Supports Betio Anti-Litter Campaign

April 29, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) supports and welcomes the launch of the first Litter Enforcement Campaign initiated by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD) through its Environment & Conservation Division (ECD) from 01 May 2021 on the islet of Betio, South Tarawa.

With the theme Ikarekebai ibukin Betio Boboto, (Strengthening Community Based Partnership for effective Littering Enforcement on Betio), the campaign is a collaboration between Betio Local communities and Betio community policing to strengthen the enforcement of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, in particular the ‘Littering Provision’,

This campaign is the result of MELAD’s collaborative initiative with Betio Local Communities, facilitated during the 2020 MELAD week dialogue between MELAD-ECD and Betio Local Communities. The collaboration was officiated with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aims to address the waste and litter challenges on Betio.

MELAD is also undertaking community consultations with several maneaba and waste and littering awareness roadshows on Betio. This will be followed by a number of scheduled enforcement training to local communities’ security representatives to be facilitated by MELAD with the support of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

The trainings will aim to build the capacities of these local community securities and empower them to enforce this Littering provision of the Environment Act on Betio.

MELAD is of the view that this outreach campaign will raise awareness and also prepare the general public on Betio for the upcoming enforcement of the Littering provisions of the Environment Amendment Act 2007, to be led by the Betio Local Communities with the full support of the MELAD Environment Inspectors and the Police officers stationed on Betio.

MELAD encourages the general public, Schools, Government Ministries and State-Owned Enterprises (SoE) to support this initiative.

Bill to Strengthen E-Commerce in Kiribati

April 29, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) welcomed the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) tabling of the Electronic Transactions Bill 2021 for consideration in Parliament by the Honourable Booti Nauan, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC).

Through an official release, the MCIC stated that the Electronic Transactions Bill provides legal recognition and status to the use of electronic communications and signatures. It applies to all types of electronic transactions exchanged among Business, Government and Consumers, subject, in certain cases, to the adoption of implementing regulations”.

In his introductory remarks for the Bill, Honourable Booti Nauan, highlighted that the Bill fulfills the Government’s long-term development plans outlined in the Kiribati 20-Year Vision 2016-2036 (KV20) and the Government’s Manifesto aiming at developing a regulatory environment for electronic transactions and, in particular, enabling electronic communications in commercial dealings.

Honourable Booti Nauan further noted that electronic commerce is particularly important in Kiribati given geographical challenges and the shortage of physical infrastructure. The adoption of the Bill comes at a critical time as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has escalated the use of electronic communications in commercial activities, including in Kiribati.

The Bill is based on UNCITRAL texts. Once the Bill is passed, Kiribati will be one of the first countries in the world, and possibly the first in the Pacific, to adopt the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.

The second reading of the Bill is scheduled in the next Parliament session, later this year.

Kiribati School Tourism Awareness Program

April 26, 2021 by George Kumkee

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) commenced its Primary Schools Tourism Awareness program on South Tarawa and Betio from 19 April 2021. This program will run through to 05 May and targets Year 6 students.

The goal of the program is to provide students with an understanding of tourism, its benefits on the economy and community and the potential careers opportunities that exist in the industry.

Whilst tourism is not part of the year 6 syllabus, TAK’s School Tourism Awareness program helps enrich and enhance children’s understanding of tourism and provides them with valuable information on the potential it has to contribute to development in Kiribati.

The program also included the distribution of Tourism Careers posters.

Bikenibeu West Primary School teacher Mrs Kaetieti Iotua commented that such a program is important for students at this level to better their understanding on tourism and its potential. She added the posters will be put up on the wall to remind children of the many opportunities that exist in the tourism industry.

TAK is grateful to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for endorsing this program and looks forward reaching out to all primary schools across the country.

UNDP Tourism Sector Micro-credentials a Success

April 23, 2021April 23, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The UNDP Micro-credentials for the Tourism Sector project for Kiribati has been deemed a success by the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC), the organisation tasked to implement the project across the Pacific.

Two online courses, Digital Literacy Essentials, and Communication Technologies for Business Success were included in this project and initially targeted 40 participants. Due to overwhelming interest from across Kiribati, the project increased availability to 100 participants, and 65 participants successfully complete the courses.

APTC Innovations Team Specialist Advisor, Susan Bateup stated “whilst the project concluded on 31 Match 2020, the Micro-credentials will continue to be available for anyone from Kiribati to Register online via the APTC website – https://aptc.edu.au/courses/micro-credentials – and will be supported by the MyVillage eLearning support team”.

The APTC also advised that it is considering additional Micro-credentials to be added to its current collection of Micro-credential short courses and information on this will be shared once available.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati acknowledged the tremendous support extended to the Kiribati tourism industry by the APTC to assist in building capacity during a challenging time and looks forward to opportunities for tourism training support in the future.

Tourism Authority Kiribati