The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) participated in the Sustainable Coastal & Marine Tourism – Changing the Tide on Sustainability panel discussion at the recent Asia Development Bank (ADB) Healthy Oceans Tech & Finance Virtual Forum on Wednesday 26 January 2022.
TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau joined sustainable tourism experts from the Asia Pacific region in a panel discussion that aimed to understand the relationship between different levels of the sustainable tourism product and its – positive and negative – impact on marine and coastal resources.
The panel also discussed the right enabling environment, regulations, awareness and behaviour required for a sustainable tourism system to be able to contribute to healthy oceans. The session also touched on the priority interventions (investment) to be applied to create a more sustainable & marine tourism ecosystem post COVID-19.
In his presentation, TAK CEO used the opportunity to share Kiribati’s Sustainable Tourism Development Framework, outlining Kiribati’s policy environment that supports sustainable coastal and marine tourism and the challenges and achievements of tourism operations and the relationship with other marine resource users. He further stressed that Kiribati only has one opportunity to get their sustainable tourism mandate right and looks to development partners such as the ADB to guide the destination through that process.
Panelists included Ms. Shaahina Ali, Executive Director, Parley Maldives, Mr. Jeffery Smith, Vice President Sustainability, Six Senses Hotels, Resorts and Spas and Ms. Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.
