Tourism Investment – Page 2 – Kaongora Newsletter

Seeking Tourism Opportunities for Banaba

February 26, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted an exploratory mission to the island of Banaba on 21 and 22 February 2021 to evaluate tourism opportunities for the island. The mission was conducted by CEO, Petero Manufolau and Senior Research and Statistics Officer, Nemani Tebana.

Better known as a former phosphate mining island until 1979, Banaba is Kiribati’s westernmost island with a total land area of 6.0 km² and its highest point is also the highest point in Kiribati at 81 metres.

The mission included guided tour to Te Bangabanga, the Sacred Cave of Banaba, and visits to other historical sites on the island including the Sir Albert. F. Ellis monument, WWll Japanese slaughtering area, old hospital, islands football and cricket field and the remains of colonial homes that once dominated the islands real estate.

The site visits was followed by meeting with Banaba MP Tibanga Taratai and the Rabi Council of Leaders (RCL) Island Manager Malosi Kapati to discuss opportunities for tourism development on the island. It was agreed that TAK will work with the Island Council and the RCL to develop a working group that will seek our opportunities for tourism to Banaba.

TAK will develop the Terms of Reference for the working group and will be open to contributions from stakeholders on how tourism can help create economic opportunities for the island.

First Grant to Kiritimati Island Outfitters

December 29, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

Fly Water Travel through Ambleve Bedrock Foundation had allocated first grant of $20,000 for Christmas Island Outfitters in Kiritimati Island. Ambleve Bedrock Foundation, Fly Water Travel had raised more than $15,000 as a relief fund to Christmas Island Outfitters fishing guides affected from COVID 19 travel bans.

Kiritimati Island Head Guide and owner of the Christmas Island Outfitters Mr. Bita Kairaoi confirmed the grant provides for a $200 monthly payment to each recipient. The first payment was made back in April 2020 and to date, more than AUD$10,000 has been paid out to Mr. Kairaoi and his six fishing guides.

Mr Kairaoi said, “we are grateful to the grant which has greatly helped sustain our income during this COVID 19 travel lockdown and we thank Fly Water Travel and Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this generous and kindhearted support in providing this grant.”

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) on Christmas Island has witnessed the adverse impact the COVID 19 travel ban is having on tourism businesses and employees including fishing guides. It joins Christmas Island Outfitters in extending its sincere gratitude to Fly Water Travel and the Ambleve Bedrock Foundation for this valuable initiative.

Abemama Island and Food Security

November 30, 2020November 30, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati team had visited Abemama from the 1st to the 16^th of November 2020 for a follow-up on development of eco-tourism products through assisting local communities on ways to enhance food security in the context of global climate change using the tourism sector.

The team conducted consultations with active communities and villages on existing and new eco-tourism products for industry partnership development. Agri-domestic skills supporting traditional culinary practices and experiences have incentivise communities with initiatives within the tourism industry at communities based levels.

Abatiku islet had been declared and recognized as a Marine Protected Area to conserve and safeguard marine resources for the welfare and wellbeing of its inhabitants. Reina and Baretoa villages and other factories Development have passed the trial of partnership in outsourcing skills and knowledge to future visitors and tourists on the preservation of food against the impacts of climate change. An official from Tourism, Ms Kiarake Karuaki stated how these activities have motivated communities in Abemama to be prepared toward challenges of food security as climate change unfolds.

A spokesman, Mr Iotebwa Etuati appreciated more alternatives introduced to them, through the tourism industry as a source of revenue and sustainable development. This trip had offered first hand experiences for participants and targeted communities in generating strategies toward food security.

The trip was funded by the Food Security project which is supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) -Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) through the United Nations Development Programme, and executed by the Environment and Conservation Division under the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development.

PIPA TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

May 31, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

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 2^nd week of June 2020.

TAK welcomes new Marine Protected Area plan

April 29, 2020April 28, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in the Southern Line Islands Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA) workshop to review the Draft SLIMPA Management Plan 2020 – 2024 on Thursday 16 April 2020.

The objective of the workshop was to review the SLIMPA Management Plan 2020 – 2024 developed by the PIPA Implementing Office (PIO).

Following the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) approval, SLIMPA, which consist of Flint, Volstok, Starbuck, Malden and Millennium islands north of French Polynesia, will be a no-take Marine Protected Area (MPA) like the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).

TAK was invited to review the tourism plan in the SLIMPA Management plan. Through the workshop, TAK outlined its recommendations for sustainable tourism in SLIMPA which focuses on maintaining a balance between revenue generation and marine line conservation.

The location of the islands between Kiritimati and Papeete makes SLIMPA a suitable stop over destination for cruise vessels travelling to Papeete from North America. In addition, the islands boast a collection of rare bird species and abundant sea life, suitable for birdwatchers and diving enthusiasts.

The workshop was also attended by representatives from various government departments and organizations including the Attorney General’s Office, Kiribati Police Service, Kiribati Oil Company, Kiribati Tourism Authority, Kiribati Airport Authority, Public Utilities Board, Kiribati Solar Energy, Kiribati National Shipping Co. Ltd, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and Air Kiribati.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti – International fly fishing and anglers cultural experience in Nonouti

November 10, 2019October 30, 2019 by Taare Rikiai

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A week before the arrival of the first group of anglers in Nonouti, TAK official visited Nonouti to prepare the island from the 2^nd to the 9^th of September.

Part of the fishing package prepared by the Island Council and the TAK is the cultural aspect of Nonouti. Such cultural aspects are the cultural and historical heritage of Nonouti Island which mostly tells a story of the island of Nonouti and the people itself

There are 6 cultural/historical sites including monuments stationed in two villages identified by the tour guide from Nonouti. These are: Te Aake Maneaba, Marenaubon, the shrine of Nei Tewenei, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic and the monuments of the first Catholic missionaries arrived in Kiribati, Nonouti. These are all stationed at Umwantewenei and Taribo tribe in the village of Taboiaki. Ana Ngea te Unimwaane is the last shrine and offering site located at Tekib’aka tribe in Temoti village, the last village in the Southern Nonouti. The following sites were identified and chosen as the major cultural and historical sites to be visited because of their important and rich stories about the Kiribati customs and beliefs, the first arrival of Christianity in Kiribati and the married of both the traditional and western knowledge that built up the largest community house/maneaba in Kiribati.

Cherishing the cultural and historical stories of Nonouti - International fly fishing and anglers cultural experiences in Nonouti Island

As part of the biggest preparation for the island, the TAK work closely with the local tour guide and the communities for a beautification and maintenance task. TAK spent a week for this preparation of the sites cleaning and landscaping. Part of the preparation, TAK and the local tour guide managed to create simple signage of each cultural sites & monuments. This will ensure that while the tour guide is taking the visitors around to these sites & monuments telling each story, the visitors can also relate to the signage at the same time. This will also be easy for the anglers to note down the names of cultural sites & monuments visited. Additionally, it will be helpful to the anglers when it comes to sharing such great cultural tour experiences via travel blogs or social media outlets. There would not be issues with naming such sites and monuments.

TAK also promoted to the local communities the importance of these sites and how small- scale businesses can be developed to support their livelihood at the same time. This will create a sense of ownership to these sites and will support its maintenance in the long term. “This is a great idea, we can make garlands for the anglers and sell it to them together with the fresh coconut juice (moimoto)” said Angineti Itinata from the Catholic Church women group from Te Riki-n-Imakurata, Taboiaki.

This activity is supported by the 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.

Community first: A Bottom-Up approach to sustain livelihoods at the communities of Abemama through Eco-tourism and Community-Based Fisheries Management approach.

September 15, 2019September 10, 2019 by Taare Rikiai

A team of two (2) officials from Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) and Fisheries Division (FD) had visited Abemama on the 4-11 August 2019 to empower the local communities to generate and control directly their own Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and tourism activities.

9 communities were visited including Tebwanga Maiaki and Meang, Tabontebike, Reina, Baretoa, Tekatirirake, Tabiang Maiaki and Meang and the islet of Abemama named Abatiku.

This joint initiative is to allow the communities to enhance their development and well-being in respect of the marine biodiversity and their cultural heritage in order to sustain their food security from the marine food sources against tourism and climate change impact.

Component of the consultation include amongst others; awareness on Community Based Fisheries Management locally known, tour package development utilizing cultural and natural resources available linking both agriculture and tourism sectors: “agritourism”.

This has many benefits to the communities of Abemama such as creating and sustaining livelihoods through conservation of the marine and land biodiversity, maintaining and beautification of cultural heritage sites, introducing of income generating activities through the MPAs and cultural sites tours, showcasing of unique traditional ways of living, marketing of local handicrafts, bringing in sustainable tourism developments and practices such as in planning of creative and environmental friendly accommodations. From these benefits, all are contributing to enhancing of food security against the impact of climate change and overall increasing the national economic developments as a higher-level objective.

As an outcome of this visit, the management plan for MPA in Abatiku will be drafted and to have incorporated the protection of bonefish for fly-fishing game targeted for international tourists. 1 new community from Kabangaki village proposed to establish it’s MPA, awareness is increased on the development and implementation of the tour package development, identification of constraints in the implementation of the community Fisheries Management Plans and the possible way forward, awareness is increased on the integration of their natural resources with tourism such as in showcasing the giant taro swamp and traditional skills to cultivate the giant taro plant.

During the visit to Abatiku islet, the community were also informed about the coming of the Cruise in November 2020 for the tour to this islet. Hence the community were also briefed on the need to ensure preparation of the islet for guest satisfaction and for the locals to utilize this opportunity in marketing their traditional skills, dances and handicrafts.

Strong support was seen from the communities throughout the consultation such as in the islet of Abatiku, the councilor and the members had agreed to support this visit. The councilor Mr Avia Teruruai said “you have the full support of Abatiku as a whole to prepare for the cruise visit by protecting our marine resources, maintaining and conserving the historical and cultural site at sea and on land as part of the cruise passengers unique experience”.

At Tekatirirake village, the community added that “the need of establishing our marine protected areas will serve two purposes; to protect and conserve our marine resources and also to create something that would attract tourists.” Such a comment reaffirms the of value this program for the people of Abemama. Thus, the benefits will also assist in mitigating food security challenges and create more enterprising opportunities.

The trip was supported by the Kiribati LDCF-I 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