Marine Atlas: Maximizing Benefits for Kiribati

BEYOND THE BEACH: MARINE TOURISM

Kiribati’s diverse and growing marine tourism sector is worth millions to the economy, but needs to be carefully managed so as not to endanger the very ecosystems it relies on.

The capital Tarawa and Kiritimati (Christmas Island) are the two main tourism destina- tions. Kiribati’s marine environment, includ- ing its beaches and historical sites, is ideal for game fishing, diving, snorkelling, seabird watching and surfing. It goes without saying that the health of coral reefs, the sustainabil- ity of fish stocks and the beaches are crucial for the tourism industry in Kiribati. Due to its remoteness and infrastructural barriers, tourism is relatively small scale, with an average 6,000 visitors per year con- tributing a portion (10 per cent in 2014) to the overall GDP. According to Rouatu (2015), the estimated value of marine tourism in Kiribati is around AU$4.3 million per year, although this is expected to increase in the future. In light of this, in 2017 the govern- ment of Kiribati introduced a policy (Kiribati 20-year Vision – KV20) that advocates tour- ism and fisheries as the focus sectors for further development and investment. This same policy prioritizes tourism development in the Line and Phoenix Islands groups—the islands with pristine conditions ideal for tourism opportunities. To plan effective and sustainable marine tourism, one of the fundamental tasks is to take stock of the various existing uses of the marine environment that may be affected

by tourism. In 2018, the MACBIO project mapped around 50 different types of uses in the marine environment of Kiritimati Island, showing current and potential overlapping uses in some places. To address this and avoid conflicts, an MSP process can be undertaken to inform the overall planning of tourism and other development activities in the marine environment. Kiribati is serviced by international air- ports at Tarawa and Kiritimati, with links to Hawaii, Australia and neighbouring coun- tries including Narau, the Solomon Islands and Fiji. There are also a number of small domestic airports servicing the various islands in the three major island groups. The number of tourists visiting Kiribati is low, with around 5,000 people arriving per year, compared with over 500,000 per year to Fiji. The number of tourists arriving each year is similar to the number of arrivals visiting family and friends. Cruise tourism is also a small sector in Kiribati, although Tabuaeran (Fanning Island) was regularly visited by the Norwegian Cruise Line between 2001 and 2008, which generated significant tourism income. The island is still a stop for cruise ships en route to the Pacific Islands to the south and Ha- waii to the north. Kiribati’s many islands also serve as a stop for cruising yachts sailing across the Pacific Ocean. Lack of investment, both in terms of in- frastructure and promotion, is the limiting factor in the growth of Kiribati’s tourism sector. Kiribati has some of the most pristine coral reefs in the world, so the development of the tourism sector must be balanced with ensuring the health of the ecosystems on which it relies.

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MAXIMIZING BENEFITS FOR KIRIBATI

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