Product Development

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati’ (TAK) is collaborating with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development’s (MFMRD) Community – Based Fisheries Management Division’s (CBFM) to incorporate tourism in its Coastal Fisheries Management Initiatives.

Through a meeting attended by TAK CEO Petero Manufolau, DCEO Reeti Onorio and Tourism Product Development Officer Kiarake Karuaki, TAK discussed how CBFM could consider introducing community-based tourism elements into its soon to be launched Nanikaai Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan in South Tarawa.

The TAK proposal will essentially see the inclusion of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Tour, a Nanikaai Community Tour, cultural presentation, and local and repurposed handicraft sales to South Tarawa visitors by the Nanikaai community.

TAK believes that whilst such an initiative will help generate additional revenue for the Nanikaai community, it will also contribute to the fulfillment of the destinations sustainable tourism obligations as outlined in the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy (KTSP).

As part of its contribution, TAK will support the Nanikaai community through training and capacity development programs including the product development, pricing strategies, marketing, and tourism business fundamentals training.

The Nanikaai Community-Based Fisheries Management Plan will be launched in late January 2024 and TAK is collaborating with CBFM to include product familiarisation tour for local accommodation providers, tour operators and media partners during the launch.

In a groundbreaking effort to support sustainable fisheries and community development, the Butaritari community is launching the Nei Tengarengare project—a Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiative centered around Marine Protected Area (MPA) tours. This project, developed in collaboration with Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), aims to foster environmental conservation, empower local communities, and promote responsible tourism practices.

The Nei Tengarengare project stems from the outcomes of the Coastal Fisheries Summit held in May 2023, where TAK was invited to join the Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM), locally known as Nei Tengarengare. Nei Tengarengare is a division of the Coastal Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFRD), and it works closely with communities in Butaritari to ensure sustainable fisheries practices.

As part of the project’s initial steps, TAK will collaborate with MPA communities in Butaritari to provide training on MPA tour package development, itinerary planning, and package costing. Ms. Kiarake Karuaki, the Tourism Officer for Product Development, conducted training sessions in three MPA communities—Kuuma village (north and south), Tanimaiaki village, and Bikaati islet—in preparation for the upcoming national stakeholder meeting scheduled for early August in Butaritari.

During the consultation workshops, Ms. Kiarake shared insights on various topics including the foundations of tourism, Kiribati niche tourism products, Butaritari niche tourism products, and different types of travellers or visitors. This knowledge exchange aimed to enhance the communities’ understanding of tourism in general, enabling them to develop tailored experiences that align with visitor preferences.

The three MPA communities in Butaritari—Kuuma village (north and south), Tanimaiaki village, and Bikaati islet—will serve as pioneers, sharing their MPA through a tour program with representatives from other MPA participants across the Gilbert Islands. The participating islands include Makin, Marakei, Abaiang, Tarawa, Maiana, Kuria, Aranuka, Abemama, Nonouti, Tab North and Tab South, Onotoa, Beru, and Nikunau. The aim is to facilitate knowledge sharing and inspire other island groups to replicate successful practices in their respective regions, ensuring the sustainability of their established Marine Protected Areas.

“The Nei Tengarengare project is a remarkable example of collaboration between the tourism sector and local communities for sustainable development,” said Petero Manufolau, CEO of TAK. “By harnessing the potential of Marine Protected Area tours, we can protect our precious marine ecosystems, empower communities, and create authentic experiences for visitors. We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to its positive impact on Butaritari and beyond.”

The Nei Tengarengare project marks an important step towards promoting responsible and community-driven tourism in Butaritari. By integrating conservation efforts, cultural heritage, and sustainable livelihoods, this initiative paves the way for a brighter, more resilient future for both the environment and the local communities.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) recognizes that Monitoring and Evaluation are critical for understanding the effectiveness of any project. Regular assessment allows it to identify successes and areas where improvements can be made and ensures accountability, allowing tourism operators to track progress and taking accountability for performance.

To this effect, TAK together with the Project Management Unit for the LDCF Project – 1 conducted its Abemama Community Based Tourism (CBT) Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) session with participating communities from 13 – 17 March 2023; the island’s first since the Abemama CBT product development project was launched in October 2022.

TAK used this activity to gauge the operations and sustainability of the tourism services provided by the 5 participating communities. Through these sessions, TAK undertook an audit of each product, provided feedback to service providers and mapped out ways to improve as tourism business enterprises. Notable gaps identified through M&E session include limited online connectivity and ease of booking, online payment limitations and whole of island participation in tourism.

In addition to the 5 communities, the Abemama island council, which plays an important role on tourism development on the island, was also consulted on the progress of each CBT initiative.

TAK appreciates that success cannot be achieved overnight and is therefore committed to providing continuous support to communities and organisations engaged in CBT activities.

The 5 communities that offer CBT products in Abemama are Reina village, Baretoa village, Abatiku islet, Ainen Wiikin Abemama, and the Santo Antonio Parish Hotel.