On August 12, 2024, the Office of Commerce, Investment & Tourism collaborated with Mr.
Hideyuki Shiozawa who is the Director, Division of Island Nations, Ocean Policy Research
Institute at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Japan, to host a workshop focusing on
community-based tourism in the Jokutaak Area at the RRE Hotel. Fourteen participants,
aged between 19 and 23, from the Wotje Community took part in this event.
The workshop aimed to train participants in recognizing potential tourism assets/activities
through a phenology calendar. The phenology calendar also helped the participants study
patterns of events in nature, especially in the weather and in the behavior of plants and
animals,to see when is thebesttime ofthe yeartopromote tourismactivities on WotjeAtoll.
The potential tourism resources/activities were then carefully chosen and developed into a
detailed tour plan, connected by a central theme and storyline. Each tailored itinerary in the
training program was designed for specific markets, focusing primarily on the United States
and Japan. During the session, participants shared insights on weather patterns and
discussed the effects of climate change on the natural environment and food processing in
Wotje Atoll.
Wotje was chosen as one of the atolls highlighted in the tourism strategic plans for the
upcoming years to enhance tourism in the neighboring islands. Subsequent workshops will
involve other selected atolls in the future.