A stunning island nation in the central Pacific Ocean is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, but very few tourists visit. Kiribati, pronounced KEE-ree-bas and known officially as the Republic of Kiribati, is located in the Micronesia subregion of Oceania and made up of 33 islands, only 20 of which are inhabited.
They’re dispersed among three island groups, the Phoenix Islands, Line Islands, and Gilbert Islands, where the capital South Tawara is located. The city is thought to have a population of some 70,000 people and accounts for more than half the nation’s population. Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island) is country’s largest island, is considered one of the most beautiful places to go.
The island is the world’s largest coral atoll, known for being a superb salt-water fishing spot. Its rich variety of wildlife includes the endemic “Christmas Island Warbler,” known among locals as the “Bokikokiko.”
The entire land area of Kiribati is a mere 811 square kilometres, making it smaller than New York City and one of the world’s smallest countries by land size.
Despite this, it covers a large area with easternmost point in the Line Islands more than 2,800 miles away from the southernmost poin in the Gilbert Islands.
The country, which was formerly a British colony and gained independence in 1979, is dotted with exquisite strips of sand and surrounded by dazzling turquoise waters, but for various reasons hasn’t become a major tourism hub, unlike other Pacific nations.
According to a 2019 blog post by the think tank Dev Policy, Kiribati saw 5,663 total arrivals in 2017, while fellow Oceania island nation Fiji had 842,884.
One reason for this is its remote location, lying more than 230 miles from its nearest neighbour, The Marshall Islands.
The competitive tourism market in the Pacific and a lack of infrastructure to support large numbers of visitors are also likely reasons behind the lack of tourists.
But though authorities are making efforts to improve travel and trade routes to the country, its fragile environment means it will have to be closely managed, as per travel outlet Islands.com.
The nation’s long-term future is also at peril due to rising sea levels. An article from the World Health Organisation addressing climate concerns for Kiribati published in March 2024 said none of the islands is more than four metres above sea level at their highest point.
According to Islands.com, it’s already contending with flooding and droughts related to climate change, as well as ocean pollution, and has been vulnerable to natural disasters like tsunamis.
While not many tourists venture there, Kiribati is known for its stunning coastline and impressive beaches. Among the most notable ones is Aranuka Island Beach, with its golden sand surrounding lagoons and reefs perfect for scuba diving.
Another stunning shoreline is the quiet Christmas Island Beach, from which those who venture there can see several types of fishes, turtles and the World War 2 wrecks under the ocean.
