Uncategorized

The Ministry of Information Communication Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) hosted its 1^st National Showcase with theme ‘Sustainable Connectivity Enhances Productivity and Wealth’ on Friday, 05 March 2021 at the Bairiki Square, South Tarawa.

In his opening address, the MICTTD Minister, Honourable Tekeeua Tarati said that the main purpose of the MICTTD Day is to showcase the different services provided by his ministry and associated state-owned enterprises (SOE’s). Hon Tarati added that he hoped that through the showcase, the public will understand the important roles of the ministry plays and to utilise their services accordingly.

The event was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Kiribati, HE Taneti Maamau and was attended by a delegation of government ministers, diplomatic missions, business operators and students.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) used the even to raise awareness of the work it does in training and capacity building, marketing and promotion and product development. The presence of high school students at the event also gave TAK the opportunity to speak to them on career opportunities available in tourism and tertiary courses available for tourism both locally and regionally.

Reigning Miss Kiribati and Mauri Experience brand ambassador, Miss Baniti Ekeieta Semilota was also at the event to promote special deals and packages offered by accommodation providers for the domestic market.

Other exhibitors at the event included Air Kiribati, Kiribati National Shipping Line, Vodafone, and Kiribati Land Transport Authority. End

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted tourism package development consultations with South Tarawa and Abatao accommodation providers on 17 & 18 February 2020.

Through its Mauri Experience promotion campaign, TAK learnt that while most South Tarawa properties offer attractive room only rates, not much is available through package and value-added offerings.

The main purpose of the consultation therefore was to discuss how TAK can assist in the development and promotion of packages that includes food & beverage and activity components. The consultations opened an opportunity for discussions on how properties can capitalise on events such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, and National Day celebrations to offer packages that included more than just a room rate.

TAK believes that inclusive packages will offer accommodation providers secured food and beverage and activities revenue and will also make their offers more appealing to its customers.

6 accommodation providers on South Tarawa were consulted including the George Hotel, Dreamers, Utirerei Motel, Eniita Lodge, Tads Guesthouse and Tabontekeeke in Abatao, North Tarawa.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its first Mauri Mark industry consultation with selected tourism business operators in North Tarawa from 22 – 27 January 2021.

Mauri Mark is Kiribati’s National Tourism Standards Programme originally developed for accommodation providers only. This has since evolved to now include other tourism business operations including restaurants and bars, tourism leisure crafts, dive operators and an industry wide customer service program called the Mauri Way.

The program will be based on the compliance standards developed in partnership with Kiribati’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), Ministry of Fisheries and Marines Resources Development (MFMRD) and the Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) and TAK is mandated under the Tourism Act 2018 to manage this program.

The North Tarawa consultations provided the opportunity for tourism operators in North Tarawa to understand the program and begin preparing to adopt the improved standards requirements once formalized.

TAK will continue its consultations in other parts of Kiribati in the coming months.

North Tarawa’s newest tourism destination, Nemat Resort located along one of the most captivating stretches of brilliant white sandy beach on Buariki offers a unique barter program that promotes community engagement in tourism.

Since opening in December 2020, Nemat Resort has become very popular among locals and the South Tarawa expatriate community.

To encourage local community involvement, Nemat Resort developed a barter program where they offer quality imported second-hand clothes in exchange for local materials that they use to beautify the resort.  The children of Buariki community have been the most enthusiastic in this program, exchanging 5 coral flat stones for a shirt or a pair of pants depending on their preference.

The resort resourcefully uses these coral flat stones to create cobblestone-like paths and walkways throughout the premises which give Nemat Resort a tropical elegant feel.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) agrees that this is an excellent example of how businesses can assist communities during these extraordinary times.

Nemat Resort features a selection of traditional buia and hotel room accommodation with 24 hours restaurant and bar services, conference space, and a range of non-motorized water activities. 

Kiribati is preparing to be the first country in the world to welcome the new year.

Situated in the central Pacific, Kiribati is made of 33 Islands grouped into 3 island archipelagos: The Gilbert Islands in the West; the Phoenix Islands Protected Area in the center; and the Line Islands in the East.

The islands straddle along and across the equator at the true heart of the Pacific; where the equator meets the International Date Line. It is the only country in the world situated on all four hemispheres of the globe – northern, southern, eastern, and western.

The Line group in the Eastern part of the country will be the first in the world to welcome the year. It is currently 1 hour ahead of Fiji and New Zealand, 3 hours ahead of the East Coast of Australia and 22 hours ahead of the West Coast of the USA.

To celebrate this, the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) will host a live feed via its official Facebook page Visit Kiribati from Kiritimati (Christmas) island on the 1^st of January to capture the world’s first sunrise in 2021. The live feed will be active from 6.30am (Kiritimati time).

Kiritimati island is a world class saltwater flats fly fishing destination offering bonefish, triggerfish, giant trevally, and numerous other species.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati undertook a cultural rehabilitation program and ecotourism development consultations on the island of Abemama from the 9^th to the 14^th of August 2020.

On the first week, TAK teamed up with Cultural and Museum Division during their village consultations. These consultations aimed at increasing awareness on the significance of maintaining cultural heritage and planting of resilient local food crops to enhance their food security and maintain the traditional cuisine and to sustain local knowledge and practices in response to the adverse impacts of climate change.

TAK was involved with the cultural rehabilitation consultations and site visit with village elders. This was the second joint Culture and Tourism mission to help restore and rehabilitate site of cultural significance for tourism purpose as well and for future generations to enjoy. The team had the opportunity to discuss with village decision makers ways in which these important sites could be preserved or beautified.

Whilst on the island, TAK had the opportunity to expand its awareness on the importance of ecotourism development to interested communities and villages and a follow up with Reina village on their cultural eco tour program that was developed in 2019. Reina village also informed the team on their interest to establish their own eco-accommodation. This was followed with a site visit and clean up.

Additionally, a visit to Kauma High School by the team, provided the school the opportunity to know and learned the importance of Agritourism Development and linkages between the tourism and agriculture.

The TAK team is expected to revisit Abemama in September to work with active communities, villages and school who have shown interest and to commence their eco-tourism business initiatives as well as continue its engagement with CMD on the beautification of Abemama cultural sites that were identified during the visit.

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.

Every Friday of the week, staff of the Ministry of Line and Phoenix Islands take a day off from office work and work outside cleaning and gardening outside of their officer for a cleaner and healthier working environment.

The main purpose of the cleaning campaign is to encourage all employees to continue working in a working place that is clean, tidy and look inviting to customers.

Friday 20th June 2020, TAK staffs had the opportunity to work on their garden and their office entrance, beautifying it with flowers and other plants to make it look attractive and tidy. An inspection to be carried out once each sector completed their clean up and gardening.

Cultural celebration has been part of the fabric of Kiribati schools for decades and it is still celebrated in schools till date. Part of the celebration includes a competition on three different things, singing (choir), local dancing and playing different types of local games. Local produce and foods were also displayed for sale during the day.

Given that culture is recognized as the subset of tourism and provides social and economic benefits to the local community at large, sustainable revival of our culture through school cultural celebration is vital for maintaining and keeping our, identity and integrity as an I-Kiribati.

TAK support this initiative and is planning to work with schools that celebrate cultural day and have their dates included in the 2021 tourism event Calendar for travellers who want to see and experience the Kiribati culture and have it include it also on a list of things to do while in Kiribati.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) commemorated World Environment Day through a clean-up drive at the World War ll relics at Takoronga point in Betio on Saturday 06^th June 2020.

The war relics include 2x 8inch vickers anti-ship coastal guns and bunker installed by the Japanese during its occupation of Betio in World War ll.

As custodian of all World War ll relics in Kiribati, TAK is working with local partners such as the Ministry of Environment Lands and Agricultural Development (Environment Conservation Division), local communities and private businesses to undertake the clean-up and preservation of all World War ll relics in Kiribati.

The 06^th June clean-up was supported by the local Takoronga community who also planted flowers along the road to help beautify the site. The event concluded with refreshments and a community picnic the following weekend.