Stats – Page 2 – Kaongora Newsletter

Tarawa Accommodations Awarded 2023 Mauri Mark Rating

June 29, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is pleased to announce that most North & South Tarawa Accommodation providers have been awarded Mauri Mark rating following assessments conducted in April and May 2023.

The Mauri Mark rating is a significant indicator of accommodation standards, serving as a trusted reference for travelers when making their booking decisions. It provides valuable insights into the quality and range of services offered, ensuring guests have a clear understanding of what to expect during their stay.

All North and South Tarawa accommodation providers underwent comprehensive evaluation across various criteria to secure their Mauri Mark Coconut rating. The assessment process covered crucial aspects such as Business Operations, Room Facilities, Fire Safety, Health and Hygiene, Support Services, and Sustainability. These parameters were examined to ensure that each rated accommodation provider meets or exceeds industry standards in each category.

The achievement of the Mauri Mark rating for most North and South Tarawa accommodation reflects Kiribati’s dedication to providing an exceptional guest experience albeit their slow recovery post COVID-19.

TAK is confident that amidst these challenging recovery phase, accommodation provider’s adherence to the standards of business operations, room facilities, fire safety measures, health, and hygiene protocols, support services, and commitment to sustainability is an indication of their commitment to raising visitor experience in Kiribati.

TAK will conduct the Mauri Mark Assessment in Kiritimati and the outer islands of the Gilber and Line Islands in the coming months.

TAK releases Kiribati Tourism Industry Review, Q2 – 2022

August 31, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released the Kiribati Tourism Industry Review for the second quarter of 2022.

The report reveals that domestic air travel reduced by 22% compared to the previous quarter. Maritime domestic travel grew by 52% compared to Q1 2022.

Employment in the tourism industry also increased by 0.7% from the previous quarter. Room and bed inventory increased by 3% and 1% respectively for the same period.

Other tourism related data are also presented in the report including tourism employment by gender, most visited outer islands, international arrivals and departures.

TAK wishes to acknowledge the contributions of Air Kiribati Limited, the Marine Guard, Immigration department and the tourism and accommodation operators that supplied data for the purpose of this report.

Click here to view the report.

Outer Island Perception Survey (OIPS) Presentation in Butaritari

June 23, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through its Research and Statistics Division presented the Butaritari Outer Island Perception Survey (OIPS) report to the island council Mayor, Acting Clerk, Te Unimwane Chairman and other local people who attended the TAK workshop on tourism product development in Butaritari.

The presentation highlighted the key points of the Butaritari OIPS results which analysed after the survey was conducted on the island in August 2021. The results highlighted the local peoples’ perceptions on tourism on Butaritari. It simplified the data in an understandable format, especially since many of the audience were did not have tourism or statistics backgrounds.

The presentation further outlined what the people thought were the impacts of tourism to their communities. Important areas such as the island’s tourism potential and uniqueness which distinguished it from the rest of Kiribati were also discussed.

Lastly the ways forward on developing Butaritari to becoming a sustainable tourism destination were also shared with the audience.

It is hoped that this information will be shared with the community members by those that were present at the presentations.

Tabiteuea South Outer Island Perceptions (OIPS) Survey Report

May 30, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

TAK has released the Tabiteuea South (Tab South) OIPS report which contains interesting information and data on how the people of Tab South feel about tourism.

The data was collected through a series of face to face interviews with the locals of Tab South in November 2021. The respondents’ ages ranged from 22 -67 years with a gender split of 70% female and 30% male. 20 individuals were interviewed.

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

This report hopes to expose any gaps in the tourism sector on Tab South and identify pathways for TAK, the Island Council and the communities to work together to bridge these gaps and present Tab South to the rest of the world as a truly unique tourism destination.

The survey targets all outer islands except Tarawa and Kiritimati which are considered the ‘urban’ centres of Kiribati. This is the 8^th report of its kind and the survey results are shared first with the respective Full Council meeting before it is circulated to other stakeholders and the general public.

Makin Outer Island Perceptions (OIPS) Survey Report

April 28, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has completed its report on the Makin Outer Island Perception Survey (OPIS).

The OIPS is conducted by TAK across all the Gilbert outer islands and in Teraina (Washington Island) and Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) to gauge islander’s perceptions on tourism.

Data for this survey was collected through a series of face-to-face interviews with residents of Makin Island. Questions in the survey include income earned through tourism, participants understanding of the impact of tourism on the islands and their recommendations of how tourism development can benefit them.

This report informs TAK on the gaps in the tourism sector on Makin and identifies pathways for TAK, the Makin Island Council, communities and stakeholders to work together to bridge these gaps and present Makin for what it truly represents both culturally and naturally.

The survey was based on a 10% sample size of the islands population and respondents’ ages ranged from 20-78 years with a gender split of 49% female and 51% male.

TAK will complete the OIPS for remaining islands in this current quarter.

Kiribati Tourism Industry Review Q2 2021 Report

August 16, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

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

The report highlights that the domestic lockdown imposed in South Tarawa following the country’s first case of contained COVID-19 infection in May 2021 reduced domestic sea travel by 30%. On the other hand, domestic air travel increased by 53% in the first half of 2021.

Employment in the tourism industry picked up from the previous quarter growing by 2%. Room and bed numbers both increased by 6% compared to Q1 2021.

Other tourism data are also presented in the report such as tourism employment broken down by gender, most visited outer islands, and international repatriation numbers for Q2 2021.

The report was developed using data from various sources including Ministry of Health & Medical Services; Air Kiribati Limited; Marine Guard; Immigration department and the tourism operators and accommodation providers.

Click HERE to download a copy of the report.

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 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.

Kiribati Tourism Industry Review 2020 Report

May 30, 2021May 9, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released the Kiribati Tourism Industry Review 2020 report which is a consolidation of data from various local sources and provides a general overview of Kiribati tourism sector in 2020.

The report reveals an 82% year on year (YOY) drop in international visitor arrivals in 2020 and the subsequent reduction in tourism employment by 61%.

In revenue, the border closure from the end of March 2020 resulted in an estimated minimum loss of approximately AUD2.2m in tourism earnings to the Kiribati economy.

The report also reveals that whilst some Kiribati tourism businesses seized operations due to the border closure, those that remained opened were sustained by domestic, government and Non-Government Organisation (NGO’s) business.

The report is an annual analysis of the tourism sector and aims to update stakeholders with an annual review of Kiribati’s tourism industry.

TAK acknowledges the contributions of the Ministry of Health & Medical Services (MHMS), Air Kiribati Limited (AKL), Marine Guard, Immigration department, Kiribati Customs, and tourism business operators to this report.

A copy of the report is available on https://corporate.visitkiribati.travel/download/kiribati-tourism-review-2020/

Tourism Surveys on Abemama

March 29, 2021March 24, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS), Outer Island Perception Survey (OIPS) and an update of the tourism map for the island of Abemama earlier in March 2021.

TAK conducted the TBIS to update the accommodations and tourism operators’ database. Data collected included operators’ services and facilities, location, contact details, climate change impact on their operations and waste management challenges.

The OIPS on the other hand was a means for the TAK to determine locals’ perceptions on tourism, in particular its environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts.

The OIPS was conducted in the villages of Kabangaki, Tebwanga, Bangotan te Kabwaia, Kariatebike, Tabontebike, Reina, Baretoa, Tekatirirake, Tanimainiku and Tabiang.

The tourism map of Abemama was updated using GPS to plot locations of new or previously unmapped tourism sites. Among the new sites were historical sites and idols in Kenna, part of Kabangaki village at the southern end of the island and on Biike islet. The updated map will allow visitors to locate accommodations and tourism sites on the island.

The outcomes of the surveys and mapping on Abemama will be used by TAK to assist in planning activities and programs for the development of Tourism on the island and will be shared with relevant stakeholders. Once finalised, a full report will be available in the Resource Centre on the TAK corporate website.

The surveys will also be carried out in other islands throughout 2021.

This trip was supported by LDCF-1 project, funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented under the Environment and Conservation division with the support of the United Nations Development Programme.

Tourism Authority Kiribati