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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in partnership with the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has just concluded a one-week local stakeholder consultation in Tarawa for the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy & Action Plan.

The consultations provided TAK with the valuable opportunity to present the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework to Government ministries, regional organisations, private sector organisations and local NGOs.
The consultations also provided stakeholders with the opportunity to share their expertise and recommendations on how TAK can best develop a sustainable tourism policy that is doable and measurable.

Mrs Jennifer Bartlett, the International Technical Assistant for this project acknowledged the importance of considering the valuable stakeholder contributions and is optimistic that Kiribati is on the right track to achieving sustainable tourism development by 2036.

TAK Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Project coordinator, Ms Reeti Onorio highlighted the importance this policy will have towards Kiribati achieving the KV20 tourism aspirations of the Government of Kiribati (GoK).
On a national level, TAK is committed to promote sustainable tourism and its potential contribution to stimulating economic development, providing employment, income generation as well as supporting the retention of cultural traditions, sustainable management of national environmental assets and wider contribution towards social–economic benefits.

Kiribati also joined its Pacific Island neighbours when it signed the Pacific Statement of Commitment for Sustainable Tourism in the Pacific in 2022 and it is committed to ensure that tourism also addresses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Deputy CEO Onorio stressed to stakeholders that “tourism is still at its early stages of development in Kiribati and the sustainable tourism policy is our chance to get this right from the beginning”.
TAK envisages to complete and submit the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy and Action Plan to Cabinet for endorsement by July 2023.

The reopening of Kiritimati (Christmas) Island’s border on 03 May 2023, more than 3 years after COVID-19 lockdown, has boosted international tourism activities on this world-class fly-fishing destination.

The first flights from Nadi, Fiji and Honolulu, Hawaii were met with Kiribati style fun fare and a showcase of the islands’ culture through song and dance. Passengers, who were mainly returning residents and fishermen from New Zealand and the United States of America, were all garlanded upon arrival.

The jovial mood at Cassidy International Airport on the arrival of the first flights was evident as arriving guests joined in the merrymaking and pleasant reunions with local fishing guides. Residents of the island also flocked to the airport to join in the celebration of welcoming international travellers after a 3 year hiatus.

Head Fishing Guide, Mr. Timon Eberi expressed appreciation to the Government of Kiribati for the resumption of flights to Kiritimati. He added “this had brought happiness not only to us as fishing guides and tourism operators but also to the people of Kiritimati who will benefit from the restart of tourism”.

Seven (7) accommodation operators are now opened on the island. These include Ikari house, Sunset Horizon Fishing Lodge, Tropical flat fishing lodge, Lagoon View hotel, The Villages Hotel, Dive and Fishing lodge and The Little Flower Guesthouse. 2 more accommodation providers, including the Captain Cook Hotel are expected to reopen before end of the year.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) together with the Project Management Unit (PMU) for the LDCF- Project conducted the first monitoring and evaluation mission activity of the Nonouti Island Community Based Tourism (CBT) operators from 13 – 17 May 2023.

Through this activity, TAK conducted an audit of all components of each CBT product on the island and shared its findings with participating communities. Together, these communities and TAK mapped out ways for improvement.

The exercise revealed some key learnings for both TAK and the CBT communities. These include the need for a whole of island approach to support and promote tourism to the island and the value of digital technology in tourism.

The Nonouti island council was also consulted on the importance of their engagement to help realise a successful sustainable tourism operation on the island. Through this consultation, TAK also committed to providing continuous support to communities and organisations engaged in CBT activities on the island.

The 3 communities that offer CBT products in Nonouti are CM Umwantewenei, Rotin Abamakoro, Autukia village and the fishing guides.

Kiribati’s national flag carrier the Jet Embraer E190-E2 is under a 3yrs leasing agreement with Pionair Australia.

The aircraft will be operated under the 3yrs leasing agreement between Pionair Australia and the Government of Kiribati.

The Embraer can fly to Kiribati from time to time if required. The internal and direct flights between Tarawa and Kiritimati can commence when the upgrading work at the Canton runway is completed as the alternate emergency and stopover airport.

This is an EDTO requirement for the aircraft before it is approved to operate within the distances between Tarawa and Kiritimati Island.

The upgrading of the Canton runway is paramount in this Jet and Infrastructure project as it will provide more reliable air service connectivity to this remote island station, provide the alternative stopover or emergency for any aircrafts using air space over the Line and Phoenix Island Group, and a provisional airfield for the Jet Embraer E190-E2.

The runway feasibility study on Canton that was conducted by engineers from the Government of the People’s Republic of China in March this year was done after a long delay planning when COVID-19 struck at the end of 2019 until borders opened in 2022.

The results of the feasibility study will fast-track a project to rehabilitate the runway to make it operational and meet requirements as an alternate airport.

The second Jet Embraer E190-E2 is in a production line in Brazil and will soon be delivered upon completion.

Kiribati participated in the recent South Pacific Tourism Exchange (SPTE); its first international travel trade show since reopening. Represented by Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Senior Tourism Officer Marketing, Sarah Teetu, and Air Kiribati Head of Commercial, Mr. Flavio Carvalho, the event was held from 12 – 13 May 2023 at the Air Force Museum in Christchurch New Zealand and provided the ideal platform to create awareness on the destination, post COVID-19.

More than 40 travel wholesalers and media partners from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Asia, and Europe along with 60 destination and product representatives from across the Pacific engaged in scheduled one-on-one meetings over the 2 days.

As an emerging travel destination, TAK and Air Kiribati used the opportunity to strengthen awareness of the destination at the event. Market updates included the recent reopening of the world-class-fishing destination Kiritimati and the new Air Kiribati Service between Brisbane, Tarawa, and Kiritimati.

Attending for the first time, Mr. Carvalho commended the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) and Maori Tourism for the successful event. The same sentiments were echoed my Ms. Teetu who was delighted to reconnect with travel trade and industry partners again after COVID-19 lockdown.

The global tourism industry continues to embrace digitalisation. From choosing a destination and planning an itinerary to booking flights and other modes of transportation, as well as hotels, one thing is for certain, digital transformation continues to drive international travel and tourism.

This message was reinforced at the recent Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) Pacific Heads of Marketing workshop at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 11 May 2023.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Senior Officer -Marketing and Promotion, Ms Sarah Teetu was amongst representatives from various Pacific National Tourism Office (NTO) officials who attended the workshop.

Delivered by Digital marketing specialist Mr. Danny Cohanpour of Trove Tourism company, the workshop provided the platform on which participating Pacific Island destinations were able to review and identify ways to strengthen their digital presence.

Areas covered in the workshop also included source market trends, future trends in tourism branding and digital marketing, market segmentation in 2023, developing brand message and mapping brand message into effective digital marketing funnel.

Ms. Teetu expressed her appreciation for this capacity development initiative. Insights and knowledge obtained from the workshop will support TAK as it continues to implement its Digital Marketing Strategy.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati together with the Climate Change Unit from Office of Te Beretitenti were invited to participate in a Local2030 Islands Network of the Data for Climate change resilience Community of practice (CoP) and Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism CoP meeting held in Honolulu, Hawaii from 2 to 6th April 2023.

A total of 115 islanders from 33 island economies from across the Pacific, Caribbean, Indian and Atlantic Ocean actively participated in this event. It also marked the first in person annual convening where technical experts, practitioners, and government leaders from national and subnational islands around the globe gathered together since the Local2030 network first established in 2022.

The Deputy CEO, Reeti Onorio had the opportunity to share Kiribati’s unique outer islands community -based tourism experiences as well as learn about other best practices, lessons learned, discuss avenues of technical training and collaboration support, and exchanged knowledge on sustainable tourism and the transition to regenerative tourism models that can strengthen climate resilience. The program allowed the participants to experience community of practice sustainable programs including aquaculture, cultural and conservation sites, and nature reserves at the Kualoa Ranch, Heahea Fishpond and Genki Balls Ala Wai Project.

TAK sees great potential in further engagement into this wonderful network and plans to improve its membership status. The Local 2030 islands network is the first program that attaches tourism with climate change resilience and TAK would like to take advantage of this engagement for the technical support, capacity development to enhance sustainable and regenerative tourism aspirations for Kiribati tourism.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) through the support of Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Nauru Airlines and local tourism operators, engaged renown Pacific photographer, David Kirkland on a 1-week photo shoot of Tarawa and Abaiang.

Kirkland last undertook a photography project for Kiribati in 2013 and TAK utilised this recent visit to capture new product developments whilst still focussing on people and culture as the unique selling points for the destination.

TAK is grateful to Nauru Airlines for flying Mr. Kirkland into Tarawa for the project and to the SPTO for funding the photography costs. The project could not have been possible as well without the assistance of local accommodation providers who provided TAK with accommodation and meal support.

Images captured from this project will be featured in TAK’s new marketing collaterals and revamped website.