responsible tourism – Kaongora Newsletter

Kiribati participates in China International Travel Mart 2023.

November 29, 2023 by Taare Rikiai

Kiribati The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) made its presence for the first time at one of the largest China’s International Travel Mart (CITM) held in Kunming, Yunan Province from 17-19, November 2023.

Kiribati was represented by TAK Deputy CEO, Ms. Reeti Onorio. She was amongst the Heads of National Tourism Offices (NTO) from 7 other Pacific Island countries led by the Pacific Tourism Organization, (SPTO). Collectively, they showed the commitment of Pacific nations to work together in strengthening ties with the Chinese travel market.

Through the Pacific pavilion, Ms. Onorio had the opportunity to discuss Kiribati’s unique niche tourism assets and unique cultures with Chinese tour operators and consumers.

CITM is help annually and is the largest travel Mart in China. The event attracts tourism institutions, travel agencies, hotels, airlines, cultural institutions, museums and other culture & tourism-related businesses from China and around the globe. This year’s CITM attracts more than 3,000 companies and more than 1,000 international buyers.

Ms. Onorio shared that this year’s CITM was a learning experience for TAK to understand the Chinese outbound market post COVID-19. She also held discussions with tour operators on Kiribati’s Approved Destination Status for China and the progress TAK making as a destination through its MOU with the China Tourism Academy.

High on the agenda for Kiribati’s approach to the Chinese market was sustainable tourism and the destination’s intent to offer low impact, high value holiday experiences. These include cultural experiences, marine-based tourism and the off the beaten track laid-back lifestyle in the islands and its people.

DCEO Onorio expressed her gratitude to the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), and China’s Ministry of Culture of Tourism its annual commitment to support Kiribati’s participation at CITM.

CITM 2024 will be held in Shanghai, China. Leading up to that, TAK looks forward to further exploring opportunities for travel and tourism investment into our niche tourism sectors.

Kiribati presents at 2022 Global Sustainable Tourism Forum

November 11, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

Tourism Authority of Kiribati CEO, Petero Manufolau presented Kiribati’s aspirations for sustainable tourism development at the 2022 Global Sustainable Tourism Forum in Seoul, Republic of Korea on Thursday 10 November 2022.

In addressing the forum on climate action in tourism destinations, Manufolau shared the steps that TAK has undertaken towards sustainable tourism, beginning with the development of the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework that was launched in 2021.

As a destination most vulnerable to the impacts of global warming, the Kiribati tourism sector plays an important role in mitigating the impacts of climate change through responsible and regenerative tourism practices.

He added that “the Kiribati tourism sector is at a very unique stage of industry development and that TAK is working to develop sustainability indicators and a Kiribati Sustainability Policy that will set the guidelines the industry’s development”. He added that “we only have one chance to get this right and government, development partners, civil society and community support will be vital if Kiribati is to realise its full sustainable tourism development potential”.

CEO Manufolau also called out to international sustainable tourism best practice specialists and sustainable tourism development agencies to support the Kiribati tourism sector’s initiative for effective climate action in tourism.

Following his presentation, Manufolau participated in a panel discussion on accelerating the transition to green tourism. Panelists included representatives from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Greenview Hospitality, Singapore, Jaya House, Cambodia and Rogers Hospitality, Mauritius.

The keynote address for the event was delivered by Ms. Sofia Raquel Gutierres Laza, Deputy Director, United National World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) with special remarks from Mr. Jorge Laguna-Cells, Head of the One Planet Secretariat, UNEP.

The event was jointly hosted by the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) and the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, Republic of Korea.

Kiribati signs Pacific Leader’s Sustainable Tourism Commitment

October 7, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

Kiribati’s Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Industry and Cooperative (MTCIC), Honourable Bootii Nauan affirmed his country’s obligation to sustainable tourism development when he signed the Pacific Leaders Sustainable Tourism Commitment in Tarawa this morning.

This regional commitment by the Pacific Council of Tourism Ministers commits to elevate sustainable tourism as a regional priority for environmental, socio-cultural and economic development. The Council further commits to make tourism in the Pacific a force for good by adopting the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Policy Framework to put the tourism sector and communities on a path to sustainable recovery by 2030.

In signing this commitment, Hon. Nauan said that “this is a step forward in the right direction for us as we meticulously work to map Kiribati’s tourism development journey based on the core values of resilience and sustainability”. He added that Kiribati is a pristine destination that is deeply rooted in rich cultural values and must ensure that these are preserved through tourism.

Kiribati’s commitment to sustainable tourism development is framed in the country’s Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework developed in 2021. The framework provides the platform for the development of sustainability indicators for the destination in 2022 and its National Sustainable Tourism Policy scheduled for early 2023.

Hon, Nauan will lead his delegation later this month to formally submit its commitment at the Council of Tourism Ministers meeting and Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Kiribati Tourism Optimistic of a Safe Restart

February 28, 2022February 28, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) is optimistic of a safe restart to tourism for the destination following a continued high daily recovery rate from COVID-19 since 09 February 2022, 20 days after the first cases were recorded in Kiribati. .

As of 27 February 2022, Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) updates through the Office of Te Beretitenti (OB) indicated a 70% recovery rate with an average daily total of 13 cases per day over the last 7 days.

TAK believes that Kiribati’s 98% first dose and 60% second dose vaccination rate, Government’s COVID-19 safety protocols and public control measures such as the current mandatory lockdown from 7pm to 6am daily have all helped bring daily infection rates down and recoveries high.

TAK further acknowledges frontline medical officials, support staff, national security personnel and development partners in their tireless efforts to manage and contain the COVID-19 cases to its current levels.

As the world begins to open their borders and destinations to international tourism, TAK is optimistic that given the encouraging statistics from national health authorities, Kiribati will be ready for a safe restart to tourism once Government agrees to reopen its borders.

To prepare for a safe, smart, and sustainable restart to tourism, TAK had conducted COVID-19 safety protocols training for all tourism accommodation operators in 2021 and initiated the Mauri Mark Accommodation Accreditation program form January 2022.

Kiribati in PATA & BBC News Micronesia Destination Insight Series

January 31, 2022 by Taare Rikiai

In 2020, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in partnership with BBC Global News launched the Destination Insight Series in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. The webinar series takes a close look at various destinations around the Asia Pacific region and examines how they have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing towards recovery. The panel discussion will provide a 360° perspective of each destinations’ on-ground activities and preparations from operations to marketing and communications.

On Thursday 27 January 2022, the series explored the warmth of Micronesia specifically focused on Kiribati, Palau & Guam. Participants to this session included travel trade and tour operators from around the world.

In their introduction to the session, PATA highlighted that Micronesia is a spellbinding world abounding with warm caressing breezes, captivatingly rich culture and exotic adventure all dancing around in unison under the thick golden rays of an arching tropical sun. The mysterious, the magical and the modern sides of life all lie within easy reach for the welcomed visitor, just like a swollen ripe mango dropping from a mango tree into a waiting hand.

Together with Guam, Micronesia comprises of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Kiribati and Palau, with each different island chain offering a unique and unforgettable experience.

Through this session, Hon. Ngirai Tmetuchl Minister of Human Resource, Culture & Tourism Development, Palau and Mr. Gerald Perez of Guam Visitors Bureau and TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau agreed on the need for a unified regional approach to marketing Micronesia as a destination in itself.’

The recorded version of the session is available on YouTube

Abemama hotels undergo Business Fundamentals Training

November 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) conducted the Tourism Business Fundamentals training for Abemama tourism operators on 23 November 2021 at the Green Eco Hotel in Kariatebike, Abemama.

The training is a response to the tourism business operators needs assessment survey conducted by earlier in 2021. Topics covered in the training 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.

Six (6) tourism operators participated in this one-day training workshop. These included Green Eco Hotel, Island Council Guesthouse, Terineraoi community in Reina Village, Baretoa village which supports ecotourism package. Saint Anthony Parish Hotel and Abatiku will undergo separate training in the coming days.

The Tourism Business Fundamentals training is part of TAK’s Tourism Restart Program, where TAK is preparing tourism operators for a smart and sustainable restart to tourism. Similar trainings will be conducted in the other islands in the Gilbert group and as well as Tabuaeran and Teraina in the Line Islands.

Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework Launched

October 6, 2021September 30, 2021 by Taare Rikiai

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) launched the Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework (KSTDPF)during their UNWTO World Tourism Day celebration on Monday 27 September 2021.

In presenting the document, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau shared that the KSTDPF frames Kiribati’s sustainable tourism goals with the aim to achieve a suitable balance between the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts of tourism to guarantee its long-term sustainability.

He added that the framework draws from the of aspirations of the Kiribati 20 Year Vision (KV20), the recommendations of the Pacific Sustainability Tourism Policy Framework 2021 (PSTPF), and the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)/United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Journey to 2030.

With 7 sustainable goals, the KSTDPF is integrated across other policy areas and discusses a set of priorities required to achieve each of these goals. It recommends that these priorities utilise Kiribati’s existing policies and legislations that address the core principles of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic development and to guide the ongoing development and management of tourism post COVID-19.

These goals include the commitment that tourism must protect the natural environment, it must preserve Kiribati’s cultural and historical heritage, promote community & social well-being, guarantee visitor satisfaction, health, and safety, contribute to national economic prosperity, inspire green entrepreneurship and to influence effective leadership.

The policy interventions recommended in the framework is consistent with existing international, regional, and national policies, strategies, and targets and is a result of extensive consultation and collaboration with key public and private sector partners in Kiribati and the region. These consultations have been important to the formulation of a set of priorities and action recommendations required to fulfil each of the 7 goals of the KSTDPF.

TAK believes the COVID-19 has presented Kiribati with the excellent opportunity for a smart and safe restart to tourism and that the goals and priorities of the framework will assist the organisation in helping fulfil its KV20 obligation for sustainable tourism development by 2036.

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