Kiribati, specifically Christmas Island - officially Kiritimati - was once one of the last places in the world to welcome the New Year.
However, that changed in 1994, when the country moved up a day earlier to take advantage of the advantage of being the first to welcome the new day to attract tourists.
According to the website of the Kiribati Tourism Authority, there are 3 standard time zones in Kiribati: Gilbert Island Time Zone (GMT+12); Phoenix Island Time Zone (GMT+13); And British Line Time Zone (GMT+14).
Before 1994, the eastern and western groups of islands of Kiribati were located on both sides of the international day trip, with a time difference of up to 23 hours. At that time, Kiribati's President - Mr. Teburoro Tito - decided to change the date to make it more convenient. The event also marks Kiribati as the first country to see the first dawn of the third millennium and Caroline Island was renamed the Millennium Island to celebrate the event in 2000.
Kiribati has a population of 119,940 people (according to the latest population survey in 2020). The majority of the island nation's population is concentrated in the Gilbert Islands and mainly resides in the South Tarawa.
Kiribati has a total national border area of 3.5 million km2, of which 811 km2 is land. There are 32 of Kiribati's 33 islands 3m above sea level and the only one, Banaba, 81m above sea level.
Kiribati's economy is based on fish, coconut (dried coconut worm), labor export and tourism. Most of Kiribati's revenue comes from granting international fishing licenses, development aid, tourism and remittances to the country.
Kiribati Tourism Agency points out that there are many things that make Kiribati special, including the fact that Kiribati is the first country to welcome the New Year and New Year and the first country to welcome the new baby boom in 2000.
"Kiribati is a destination where time seems to stop flowing. The traditional context of communities and villages evokes the image of the past when life revolved around the present moment and peace was an important part of daily life" - Kiribati Tourism Authority emphasized.
The agency also said that Kiribati is the only country in the world that is located in all four hemispheres of the planet. Kiritimati Island in the Line Islands of the Pacific archipelago is the world's largest coral reef.
In addition, the points that make Kiribati especially memorable include: This country is a world-class saltwater flyfishing destination. This island nation is also a paradise for bone fish (bonefish) and catfish (gaint trevally).
Kiribati has a rich, vibrant and vibrant culture. This can be experienced across the islands of the archipelago.
Kiribati's capital Tarawa was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific Ocean, known as the "Battle of Tarawa".
