16 Dec 2019

Kiribati set to welcome cruises to pristine protected area

11:36 am on 16 December 2019

Kiribati's tourism authority is expecting 2020 to be an exciting year for cruise ship visits.

Kiribati

Photo: RNZ

The visits will include the first cruise to Kanton in the Phoenix Islands, which is home to the Phoenix Island Protected Area, the world's largest marine protected area, which has, up to now, had few visitors.

The Authority's chief executive, Petero Manufolaum, said that Kiribati had potential because of its undiscovered tropical locations.

He said it would work with key stakeholders on product development, tour guiding and hospitality training, as part of its cruise preparedness programme.

The visits would allow the islanders the chance to share their culture and traditional lifestyle and help generate increased economic activity.