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COVID-19 Protocols

Abemama Ecotourism Communities Prepare for Tourism Restart

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) carried out the Tourism Restart program to Abemama Ecotourism communities as part of the preparation for a safe, secure and sustainable border reopening on the island of Abemama.

The program consists of a week training to active ecotourism communities of Reina, Baretoa community, and Ainen Wiikin Abemama on areas of Revenue management and Tourism business fundamentals. The overall objective of this one-week training is to guide these communities to improve their business initiatives and service offering through understanding of how to maximise and manage their revenue, compliance to Mauri mark standards, human resource development initiatives, customer service, market analysis and marketing and promotions of their tourism products and services.

TAK also had the opportunity to train these communities on the Covid-19 tourism and hospitality protocols to ensure health safety measures are practiced when the border opens.

The training was supported by the Kiribati LDCF-1 Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented under the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

COVID-19 Protocol Monitoring and Evaluation Assessment in Kiritimati

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The Tourism  Authority of Kiribati conducted a Covid-19 Protocol Monitoring and Evaluation assessment to tourism accommodation providers on the island of Kiritimati.

TAK consulted with tourism operations that are still in operation such as the Sunset Horizon Fishing Lodge, Ikari House, Dive and Fishing Adventure Lodge and The Villages Hotel to carry out the monitoring and evaluation. This type of assessment observes how the various hotel workers put to practice the Tourism Hospitality Covid Protocol which they have been trained and certified on since the end of 2021. TAK also used the opportunity to collect data on the PPEs available as part of the assessment.

TAK encouraged accommodation providers in Kiritimati Island to be consistent in their application of these important tourism protocol in their respective operations so that it ensures safety of visitors and hosts when the Kiritimati border opens.

COVID-19 Protocol Compliance Assessment in North Tarawa

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TAK’s Training and Development Unit carried out a Covid-19 Protocol compliance assessment to tourism accommodation providers in North Tarawa on 25-26th March, 2022.

The objective of the visit is to assess the tourism accommodation providers that participated in the Tourism and Hospitality COVID- 19 Protocol for the New Normal training that was conducted in June 2021 on South Tarawa. Accommodations visited included Nemat Resort, Tarabuka Hideaway, Ocean View Motel, Bikenarara Resort, Uaai Island Getaway, Tabuki Retreat and Tabontekeeke Eco Lodge.

The assessment was based on compliance of these tourism providers in terms of actual application of the Covid-19 protocols at their visitor accommodations, sharing of what they have learned to other work colleagues, consistency of practice.

TAK encouraged tourism accommodation providers on North Tarawa to maintain consistency of practice of this Tourism and Hospitality Protocol for a safe, secure, and sustainable tourism in Kiribati.

Kiritimati Island conducts COVID19 Lockdown Drill

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The island of Kiritimati (Christmas) in the Line group conducted a COVID-19 lockdown drill on Thursday 24 February 2022 to test the islander’s readiness should they register a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Kiritimati and its neighbouring inhabited islands of Teraina (Washington) and Tabuaeran (Fanning) island are currently COVID-19 free and had enforced restrictions to domestic inbound travel into the group since COVID-19 broke out in the country’s capital in South Tarawa.

The island is also Kiribati’s leisure tourism hub, renown as a world-class fly-fishing destination and a thriving bird wildlife sanctuary.

The simulation exercise was coordinated by the Kiritimati COVID19 Task Force committee which initiated the mock lockdown based on the scenario that a positive case was confirmed in London Village.

The exercise included a declaration of public emergency on Thursday 24th of February 2022, the activation of the island’s siren for residents to remain indoors and closure of businesses, radio announcement and information dissemination via the island’s COVID-19 Facebook page. The exercise lasted 3 day.

Health and national security officials and representatives from the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development were mobilized to manage the exercise over the 3 days of trial lockdown.

During this time, the local hospital remained opened but with restrictions to visitors, operating hours for all shops were limited and a mandatory public mask mandate throughout the island was activated.

 

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) Tourism Officer Tiuti Biribo says “the public and businesses operators we very cooperative and took the exercise seriously”. He added that this allowed for the successful management of Kiritimati’s first every trial run with a confirmed case of COVID-19 community transmission.

The Task force was chaired and led by the Minister of the Line & Phoenix islands, Honourable Mikarite Temari and included Secretary, Mr Natario Kiaiti and representatives from local government agencies, private sector and faith-based organisations.

 

Tourism Kiribati Welcomes Border Re-opening Announcement

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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.

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati is responsible for working with our partners to encourage travelers to come to Kiribati and spend time exploring our country.

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