Tours & Experiences – Kaongora Newsletter

TAK Supports 3rd PNA Leaders’ Summit

October 31, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati actively supported planning and preparatory work for the 3rd Party to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Leaders’ Summit, led by the Ministry of Fisheries and Resource Development, which took place on Kiritimati Island on October 26, 2023

The meeting centered on pressing concerns, including the sustainability of fisheries, climate resilience, and the promotion of sustainable development, demonstrating a strong dedication to the well-being of the Pacific region.

TAK took this opportunity to promote Kiritimati as the largest coral atoll in the world, a renowned fly-fishing destination, and the home of some of the world’s endangered seabirds.

The office in Kiritimati was also tasked in the allocation of rooms for the PNA delegations and organize tours and activities for leaders and their spouses and head of delegations. These tours and activities included fly fishing, birdwatching, and an island tour.

The leaders and their delegations had the opportunity to experience fly fishing, and each were accompanied by some of Kiritimati Island best fishing guides. Spouses got to enjoy a two-day tour program which included birdwatching, meeting the Island Women’s Association known as Nei Baneawa and touring the world’s largest coral atoll from Ronton Village to Paris. Delegates also toured the Solar Salt Company as part of their half day tour.

The Summit has given Kiritimati international recognition through the ‘Kiritimati Communique’, and TAK hopes that such an exposure will yield tourism advantages in the coming years.

Tourism Kiribati to promote WW2 80th Year Commemoration in 2023

December 1, 2022November 30, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

As Kiribati concluded the commemoration of 79^th anniversary World War 2 on the islands of Butaritari and Betio in South Tarawa, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) shares that many untold stories of these historical events in 1943 makes Kiribati an intriguing island destination for battlefield tours.

TAK Chief Executive Officer, Petero Manufolau made the comments following the final commemoration WWll event at the Japan and Korean memorial monuments in Tabon Takoronga on Betio, South Tarawa.

“Whist most of what we know about these historical World War 2 events are documented”, Manufolau added that “first-hand accounts of survivors in the islands of Tarawa and Butaritari offer a fascinating and emotional journey into what is a significant part of the island destination’s history”.

To share the many untold, undocumented and undiscovered remanence of World War 2 in Kiribati, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) will begin work to develop ‘relive and re-discover Kiribati WWll packages’ for the 80^th anniversary celebrations in November 2023.

Through its engagement with the United Stated of America, Japan and the Republic of Korea on battlefield tours and war relics preservation, TAK will collaborate with local stakeholders and international World War 2 travel and tour operators to develop and promote battlefield tour products to Kiribati.

Manufolau said “the Kiribati WWll 80^th anniversary in 2023 will be an excellent opportunity for families and relatives of U.S, Japanese and Korean servicemen whose lives were lost in Tarawa and Butaritari to visit Kiribati to honour their memories”. Furthermore, he said “such a visit will also allow relatives to connect with IKiribati people who have become custodians or WWll relics and guardians of the remains of their loved ones in these islands”.

Visitors to Kiribati can enjoy WWll guided tours in Tarawa and Butaritari with trained local guides and historians.

TAK begins development of Mauri Way Programme

May 5, 2022April 29, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

Mauri is Kiribati for hello. As a greeting word, Mauri can also be adjusted to suit the situation such as Kam na bane ni Mauri, Ko Na Mauri, Mauri riki or the more casual and loud Mauri Mauri! However it is called out, Mauri epitomises the essence of the traditional Kiribati hospitality and when expressed, represents a feeling of genuine welcome, care and an assurance of safety to the person it is being expressed to.

To this effect, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is pleased to announce that it has officially commenced work on the development of the Kiribati Mauri Way Customer Service Programme in partnership with the Aotearoa New Zealand Volunteer Services Abroad (VSA).

The Mauri Way will be the Kiribati Tourism and Hospitality Customer Service guide that embraces the Kiribati style of hospitality and culture, and rooted in the traditional blessings of Te Mauri, Te Raoi and Te Tabomoa.

Through this collaboration with VSA, TAK has engaged customer service experts Ms. Anna Stevens and Mr Dominick William Valentine Coppinger to guide TAK on the development of the program and implement a comprehensive industry wide Mauri Way customer service training. This will be complimented with an online customer service training portal to be accessible to all tourism and hospitality business operators across Kiribati.

Once completed and implemented, the Mauri Way program has the potential the improve the quality of tourism and hospitality customer service delivery in Kiribati and will prepare the destination for an exciting restart to tourism when its international borders reopen.

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.

Community Tourism Promotion Training in Japan

February 27, 2020February 27, 2020 by Taare Rikiai

The Community Tourism Promotion training was held on the 28^th January 2020 and ended on the 12^th February 2020, and was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the short-term training was under the JICA knowledge Co-Creation Program for Young Leaders. This short training targeted different participants from different Pacific Island Countries (Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu).

The training was attended by different participants from different Pacific Island Countries mentioned earlier and was also attended by one of the staff at the Tourism Authority of Kiribati. The main purpose of the training is to train Pacific Island Countries Young Leaders on the basic knowledge and skills on Ecotourism, tourism promotion and community involvement in tourism at different regions in Japan. The three visited sites in Japan are Obihiro, Kushiro and Akan region. The training contents contains a very informative information concerning tourism promotion involving local communities, it also covers basic knowledge and skills and other important scenarios concerning Ecotourism and Community Tourism Promotion which can be adopted in the Pacific which can therefore help boost tourism promotion in the Pacific.

The training was conducted first at the JICA center in Obihiro on the 28^th January till 1^st February 2020, then the training group transferred from Obihiro JICA Center to Kushiro region on the 1^st February 2020 till 12^th February 2020. On the 5^th February the group then visited Akan Lake Resorts for learning more about the Community Tourism Promotion and also to experience the Ice Lake activities.

On the 12^th February 2020, a formal completion ceremony was held at the Kushiro City Central Library Hall where participants awarded with the certification of completion. The Completion Ceremony marks the end of the short-term training on the Community Tourism Promotion.

Tourism Kiribati Releases ‘10 Things To Do’ E-Brochures

February 21, 2020February 21, 2020 by George Kumkee

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has released its new travel information e-brochures on “10 things to do on Kiritimati and Tarawa”.

The e-brochures highlight the 10 most popular things that travellers can experience in Kiritimati Islands and on Tarawa.

Kiribati is a niche driven destination and the brochures are aimed to guide travellers as they plan their adventure through the islands of Kiribati. Experiences listed on the 10 things to do brochures are information in the historical WWII Battle Field Tours, cultural tour, diving, sightseeing, fishing, surfing and bird-watching and whale watching.

These brochures are part of the Tourism Authority of Kiribati’s aims of increasing visitor engagement and improving their experiences in Tarawa and Kiritimati.

E-copy of the brochures are available for download at the Tourism Authority of Kiribati’s website.

Tourism Authority Kiribati