Uncategorized – Page 9 – Kaongora Newsletter

Tourism Kiribati unveils new Mauri Mark Program

October 6, 2021September 29, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) unveiled the new Mauri Mark Program during their World Tourism Day celebration on Monday 27 September 2021.

The Mauri Mark program is Kiribati’s new rating system for tourism accommodation, restaurant & bars, small leisure crafts and activity/ tour operators. The program will involve the annual assessment of tourism businesses based on a set of pre-determined criteria and the subsequent allocation of rates based on scores achieved.

Under the accommodation rating, hotels and lodges will be assessed based on business operations, fire safety procedures, health and hygiene standards, safety & maintenance, facilities and in-room amenities, environmental sustainability practices and guest support service.

In presenting the program, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau invited accommodation providers to use the program as an opportunity to improve quality and service delivery, particularly as the country prepares for international border reopening in January 2022. He acknowledged that change will not happen overnight but emphasized that programs such as the Mauri Mark will positively contribute to their vision for a sustainable tourism destination by 2036.

Once assessed, accommodation providers will be rated from 1 to 3plus coconuts. Properties will be awarded rating certificates and Mauri Mark badges which they can display on site or use in their marketing collaterals as an indicator of service and quality guests can expect.

TAK will undertake awareness training and will guide tourism operators on Mauri Mark standards compliance between October and December 2021 with assessments scheduled to begin in January 2022. Visitors to Kiribati from January 2022 should therefore be able to book hotels and lodges based on these new Mari Mark coconut ratings.

Click HERE for more information of the Mauri Mark Program

DOWNLOAD MAURI MARK – ACCOMMODATION

Kiribati celebrates World Tourism Day

September 28, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated World Tourism Day 2021 with the theme “Tourism Through Inclusive Growth, by unveiling its Tourism Restart Program in Betio South Tarawa.

The event was attended by government ministers, secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps, tourism operators, non-government organisations (NGO), and civil society representatives from Tarawa and Kiritimati.

TAK Chief Executive Officer, Petero Manufolau shared the organisation’s tourism restart program framework which aims to determine, clarify, and communicate what conditions and protocols will be needed to be adhered to for international travel to happen into Kiribati. The program also intends to prepare Kiribati tourism operators for the resumption of international travel through health, business, and marketing support.

In his presentation, Manufolau highlighted the 4 main components of the Kiribati Tourism Restart Program framework which includes COVID-19 Safety Protocols, the 2021 – 2023 Digital Marketing Strategy, the revised Mauri Mark Tourism Accreditation Program and the 2021 – 2036 Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework.

In his official address, Minister of Information, Communication, Transport & Tourism Development (MICTTD), Honourable Tekeeua Tarati acknowledged the work carried out by Tourism Authority of Kiribati over the past 18-months, in particular the efforts to develop and grow the domestic tourism market in Kiribati, and the development of the COVID-19 tourism safe protocols.

On the 09^th of September 2021, the Government of Kiribati, announced the opening of its international borders from January 2022 and part of TAK’s Tourism Restart Program will help prepare tourism stakeholders for the reopening.

Tourism Restart Training in Tabiteuea North

September 22, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The island of Tabiteuea is an interesting place to visit not only for its natural beauty but also for its history. Bones and skull of a well-known warrior of Tabiteuea island, named Kourabi, is well kept and looked after by villagers of Buota until today. The story of Ten Nnabakana (stone warriors) erected between Teabuaeroa and Biken-te-Inai Islet, are still standing today.

From 01 – 10 September 2021, The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) visited Tabiteuea North to conduct trainings for Tabiteuea North and South tourism operators as part of its tourism restart program.

The 2 weeks training program included the Kiribati Tourism and Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal. This is compliance training designed to assist accommodation providers understand and deliver on the health and hygiene requirements of post COVID-19 travel. The protocol training concluded with the provision of hand sanitiser and face masks to all participating accommodation providers.

TAK also conducted an awareness session on the Mauri Mark Accommodation accreditation program which will be implemented from January 2022. In the session, accommodation providers were briefed on the Mauri Mark assessment guidelines and how ratings can help elevate the profile of their business and complement their marketing activities.

To help with preparations for international border reopening in January 2022, TAK also conducted tour guiding, service excellence, housekeeping and baking training. Participation to these sessions were extended to members of the island’s tourism potential communities.

The team from TAK also conducted consultations on the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework whilst in Tabiteuea North.

Tourism Kiribati Welcomes Border Re-opening Announcement

September 10, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) has welcomed the announcement yesterday by te Beretitenti, His Excellency Taneti Maamau on his government’s decision to open Kiribati national borders from January 2022.

In his announcement, President Maamau urged the people of Kiribati who qualify for the COVID-19 vaccines to complete both their doses before the end year. He emphasized that unity and complying with restrictions and regulations is very important for the safety of all I-Kiribati. The President called on old men and women organizations, church groups, youth groups, women organizations, Islands Councils, communities and fathers and mothers in every household to help encourage family members and friends get vaccinated against this deadly virus.

Through its Tourism Restart Program, TAK has developed the Kiribati Tourism & Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal and is currently undertaking COVID-19 safety protocol training for all accommodation providers. Properties in South Tarawa, North Tarawa, Abaiang, Tab North and Tab South have completed their training whilst the rest of accommodation and tourism service providers in other islands will receive their COVID-19 protocol training by November 2021. TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau confirmed that an industry-wide refresher training will be conducted in December 2021, prior to border reopening in January 2022.

As part of its restart program, TAK will also launch its Digital Marketing Strategy in September for implementation form October 2021, giving the Pacific Island destination 3 months to roll out its marketing campaigns and programs.

Travellers returning or visiting Kiribati for the first time in 2022 can expect an improved experience through the destination’s Mauri Mark program, a hotel assessment and accreditation program and the Mauri Way, a Kiribati National Tourism Customer Service program for all tourism service providers.

Details of Kiribati’s COVID-19 traveler requirements and protocols for the January 2022 international border reopening will be advised once it is available from government.

Kiribati at PATA Travel Mart

September 8, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in the virtual PATA Travel Mart (PTM) from 02 – 05 September 2021.

PTM is a business-to-business travel contracting and virtual networking event connecting qualified international buyers and sellers from all of Asia, the Pacific, and the rest of the world.

The event offered two full business days of one-to-one business appointments and two trade visitor days. TAK used PTM to undertake destination awareness, share Kiribati’s story through video and imagery presentations with travel trade partners from around the world.

Head of Marketing, Sarah Teetu scheduled up to 30 appointments with buyers from Asia, the Americas and Europe in the B2B sessions whist TAK Chief Executive Officer, Petero Manufolau participated as a panelist on the PTM Forum: Destination Recovery Insight from Pacific and Northeast Asia where he shared Kiribati’s Tourism Restart Program.

TAK deems its participation at PTM as a success and agrees that virtual events such as these provides the National Tourism Office with the excellent opportunity to remain connected with its valuable global travel partners as destinations prepare for a restart in international travel & tourism.

Community Product Development Consultation

September 3, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) undertook product development consultations on the islands of Makin and Butaritari in August 2021.

Led by Product & Development Officer Kiarake Karuaki, the team of 3 from TAK began with village and community consultation. These included tourism knowledge sharing and discussions on the types of tourism that could be developed using resources currently available to each community.

Understanding both the negative and positive impacts of tourism and the value of sustainable tourism development in Kiribati was also part of the consultations in these two northern Gilbert islands.

The product development consultation also included case study presentation of successful product developments projects implemented by TAK in Abemama such as the Reina Community Tourism Project.

Current accommodation providers in Makin and Butaritari were also updated on the new Mauri Mark Standards and assessment requirements which will begin in 2022.

Response from Makin and Butaritari communities was promising as communities acknowledged the initiative as a great start to understanding tourism and how they can be an active part to it. Communities also expressed appreciation that such consultations have helped them understand that tourism is more than just hotel businesses and that cultures and traditions, and that the Kiribati way of life is core to the whole tourism experience.

TAK is scheduled to undertake similar product consultations in other islands with tourism potential in Kiribati as part of its Post COVID-19 Tourism Restart Program.

TAK conducts Tourism Business Fundamentals Training

September 3, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted its first Tourism Business Fundamentals training for North and South Tarawa tourism operators on 25 & 26 August 2021 at the Utirerei Hotel in Ambo, South Tarawa.

The training is a response to the tourism business operators needs assessment survey conducted by TAK in 2020. Topics covered included pre and post covid-19 trends in tourism, tourism product development and marketing, human resources management, and the importance of community engagement for tourism business operators.

12 tourism operators participated in this two-days training workshop including Betio Lodge, The George, Mary’s Motel, Fema Lodge, Utirerei Hotel, Tad’s Guest House, Tabontekeeke Ecolodge, Santa Faustina, Oceanview Hotel, Tarabuka Hideaway Lodge and Nemat Resort.

The Tourism Business Fundamentals training is part of TAK’s Tourism Restart Program, in which it is preparing operators for a smart and sustainable restart to tourism once borders reopen. Similar trainings will be conducted in the other islands of the Gilbert group, Kiritimati Island and the Line Islands.

Tourism surveys in Makin and Butaritari

September 2, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted a Tourism Business Inventory Survey (TBIS), Outer Island Perception Surveys (OIPS) and Cultural Mapping on both Makin and Butaritari Island from 12 to 30 August 2021.

A total of 8 accommodations surveyed, 3 in Makin and 5 in Butaritari.

TBIS is part of TAK yearly program to update information from accommodation providers including, number of services, facilities, contact information etc. to be updated on TAK’s information platforms.

Outer Island Perception Survey, seeks the local perceptions on Tourism and its social-cultural, environment and economic impacts to the local communities. 10% households on Makin and Butaritari island participated in this survey.

In addition, TAK also undertook cultural mapping on both islands to identify areas that are significant and can support tourism development.

Information gathered will help build a TAK stronger portfolio for our tourism operators in Kiribati and to identify key areas that TAK needs to work on as part of its Tourism Reset Program.

TAK’s School Tourism Awareness Program

July 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) continued its school tourism awareness program in July, targeting year 9 students in all Junior Secondary School (JSS) and faith-based secondary schools on South Tarawa and Betio.

TAK had collaborated with the Ministry of Education (MoE) to include tourism in the year 9 syllabus from 2020. The annual school tourism awareness program therefore is designed to complement the Year 9 tourism syllabus and is an opportunity for TAK to update students in the current tourism trends and projections.

A key part of the tourism awareness program for Year 9 students is the discussion on career opportunities in tourism. To help students better understand, TAK distributed tourism career posters to all schools visited with copies available online via TAK’s corporate website.

Schools visited include Santa Maria, JSS TUC One, Moroni High School, William Goward Memorial College, JSS Animarao, Saint Louis High School, Betio JSS and Ngaon te Rabakau JSS.

TAK is grateful to MoE for its support and plans to extend the same awareness program to schools in the outer islands.

Culture and Senior Citizens celebrated in Kiribati.

July 15, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) joined te Beretitenti, His Excellency Taneti Maamau, government and diplomatic dignitaries and community elders at the National Cultural and Senior Citizen Day celebration on 09 July 2021 at the Sports Complex in Betio. The event was part of the 2021 Kiribati independence celebration and was organized by the Cultural and Museum Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA). This year’s theme was ‘Sustainable Empowerment to Future Prosperity through our Indigenous Culture and Knowledge’.

The event included a costume show depicting the evolution of Kiribati clothing and attire over the past century. Categories included fisherman wear, a Babai bit farmer wear, casual wear, and dance costumes. This show presented a unique look into the important roles that our senior citizens played as custodians of the Kiribati culture and how they have passed their traditional knowledge and skills down to the present generation.

The event also involved local stakeholders, traditional artisans and related government ministries coming together to showcase their skills and the opportunity to trade their unique crafts and wares.

TAK’s 2019 International Visitor Survey (IVS) identified culture as one of the top 3 attractions for travel to Kiribati. In response to this, the organisation has begun numerous initiatives to help develop cultural and community-based tourism across selected island communities to help ensure that the Kiribati experience continues to be culturally enriching for the avid traveler.

Tourism Authority Kiribati