Tourism Authority Kiribati

Kaongora Newsletter

Ecotourism Business Consultation in Abemama

Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) partnered with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives (MCIC) to conduct ecotourism business consultation on Abemama Island from 22 – 27 November 2021.

Led by TAK Senior Marketing and Promotion Officer Sarah Reymond, the team conducted village and community ecotourism consultation, followed by the formulation of ecotourism business plans for selected communities on the island.

The ecotourism business plan development was supplemented by product development, pricing strategies, marketing and social media promotions and the Kiribati Mauri Mark standards training.

Participants expressed appreciation for the program and acknowledged that ecotourism has great potential for island communities.

Based on the business plans developed, these communities will work with TAK and MCIC to register their ecotourism businesses. They will continue to be guided as they work towards developing and launching their ecotourism products ahead of Kiribati’s international border reopening in 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAK Supports Circular Economy Initiative

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) this week participated at the Bazaar, a circular economy initiative by the Environment Conservation Division (ECD) of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD).

Based on the theme of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover’, the Bazaar showcased how plastic, organic and other waste materials can be repurposed into valuable items such as jewelries, flower vase, door mats, and other decorative items. The Bazaar also promoted how natural waste such as tree branches. leaves and seaweed should be reused for domestic purposes such organic fertilizers.

TAK partnered with renown local artist Nei Tekarawa Kilifi who showcased repurposed plastic items that she crafted following her participation at the Kiribati Pacific Tourism Plastic Repurposing Training that was conducted on Tarawa in December 2020.

In January 2021, the Creative Tourism Network awarded TAK with the Best Strategy in Creative Tourism Development during the Creative Tourism Awards for its Pacific Tourism Plastic Repurposing Program. TAK is committed to continue its work in this aspect of the circular economy as it progresses towards strengthening sustainable tourism development across Kiribati.

Kiribati Sustainable Tourism Development Policy Framework Launched

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.

DOWNLOAD FRAMEWORK