Kiribati Hope Media Leader Calls for Investment in Cultural Heritage Tourism, Inspired by China's Historical Preservation

South Tarawa, Kiribati — Kiribati Hope Media Director and journalist Tarataake Angiraoi has called for greater national effort to preserve and promote the country’s rich historical and cultural sites, arguing that this could open new opportunities for economic growth through cultural tourism.

Angiraoi recently returned from a High-Level Seminar for Media Leaders held in China, which brought together delegates from 23 countries, including Kiribati. As part of the program, participants visited some of China’s most iconic heritage sites across Beijing, Chongqing, and Changxin—experiences that left a strong impression on the Kiribati media leader.

Among the highlights of the visit were the Palace Museum in Beijing, which houses centuries of Chinese dynastic history, and the Revolutionary Museum, where the story of Mao Zedong and the Communist Party’s resistance against Japanese aggression is preserved and presented.

These sites among many, Angiraoi observed, have been carefully maintained not only for domestic pride but also as major attractions for international tourism.

“What stood out,” he reflected, “was how effectively China has turned its history into a national asset—both culturally and economically. People travel from around the world to witness this heritage, and the preservation work gives younger generations a strong sense of identity and pride.”

Drawing comparisons to Kiribati, Angiraoi pointed out that the island nation also holds powerful stories embedded in its landscapes, many of which remain overlooked or underfunded.

He specifically highlighted the tomb of the great ancestral warrior Rairaueana on Tabiteuea South, and the ocean hole in Butaritari, which is believed in oral tradition to be where the island first rose from the sea.

“These places are not just legends—they are our living history. If preserved and promoted with the same care as international sites like those in China, they could become focal points for tourism and education,” he said.

Angiraoi emphasised that many of Kiribati’s cultural landmarks are in rural or outer islands, where tourism could directly benefit community-based businesses and support sustainable development.

He urged the government, cultural institutions, and the tourism sector to collaborate in identifying, protecting, and showcasing Kiribati’s historical sites, both for national pride and international appeal.

“With thoughtful investment, we can open our doors to the world—not only to share our culture, but to create jobs and opportunity for our people,” he said.