Tourism Authority Kiribati

Kaongora Newsletter

Abemama hotels prepare for Tourism Restart

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAKI) conducted a one-week training on Customer Service, Basic Housekeeping and Hospitality, Revenue Management and Kiribati Tourism and Hospitality Protocols for the New Normal / COVID-19 Safety Protocols at the women’s center in Abemama.

The Tourism Restart training program is designed to help prepare tourism business operators for border reopening in January 2022.

Participants of the workshop included employees from the three hotels, Abemama Island Guesthouse, Green Eco-lodge, St. Anthony Parish Hotel and representatives from Reina Community and Ainen Wiikin Abemama Ecotourism Communities.

The program included the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to all participating organisation, funded by the US Embassy’s Economic Recovery Grant.

Similar programs and training have been delivered in South Tarawa, North Tarawa, Abaiang, Butaritari, Marakei, Tab South, Tab North and Kiritimati. TAK will deliver the same training in the remaining islands of the Gilbert and Line Islands prior to border reopening.

 

 

 

 

Abemama hotels undergo Business Fundamentals Training

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.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiritimati Island Mayor Supports Tourism Restart Program

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in Kiritimati also celebrated World Tourism Day on 27th September 2021 at Linnix Compound in London, Kiritimati Island.

The event was attended by government representatives, Kiritimati tourism operators, and non-governmental organization representatives.

In his official address, chief guest, and Mayor of Kiritimati, Natua Teiti, highlighted the importance of the theme of World Tourism Day, “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”, and how stakeholders must work together to prepare Kiribati for the reopening of internal borders in January 2022.

Teiti added that the Government of Kiribati through TAK and supported by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), will be conducting COVID-19 protocol trainings to all tourism operators in October as part of the island’s border reopening program.

Mayor Teiti challenged and urged tourism operators in the Line Islands to work together in understanding and complying tourism safety protocols that have been developed by TAK.

Kiritimati is the world’s largest coral atoll and is a renowned fly fishing destination.

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

Tourism Restart Training in Tabiteuea North

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.