Government of Timor-Leste

On October 22^nd, the Government, through the Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, announced the Timor-Leste Tourism Investment Forum 2024, which will take place on November 21^st and 22^nd, 2024, at the Dili Convention Centre (CCD – acronym in Portuguese). This event aims to highlight the country's vast tourism potential and attract local and international investment to develop this strategic sector. 

The Tourism Investment Forum will act as a platform to bring together industry leaders, investors and government and private sector representatives, including partners from the ASEAN region, to discuss opportunities for growth and collaboration in the tourism area. The event, which will now be held annually, aims to position Timor-Leste as an emerging and promising tourist destination in the region.

‘Through strategic partnerships and responsible investment practices, we will unlock the extraordinary potential of Timor-Leste's tourism industry to create a sustainable future for our country and promote unique and special opportunities for our local and international investors’, said the Vice Prime Minister during a press conference. 

Alongside expert talks and panel discussions, the event will feature networking sessions, trade exhibitions and guided tours of Dili's tourist sites, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of the sector's opportunities and growth potential. Among the main topics to be debated are global trends in tourism, public-private partnerships and incentives for foreign investors, both foreign and local.

The official Tourism Investment Forum website has been launched to facilitate registration and provide detailed information on the event: www.TLTourismForum.com. The platform allows participants and speakers to register and provides information on the event agenda, speaker profiles and constant updates on scheduled activities. 

The two-day forum is an initiative of the Government of Timor-Leste to attract new investment in the tourism sector. It aims to promote the country as a destination with a diversified offer that includes ecotourism, diving, whale watching, trekking, and cultural and historical tourism. Around 300 people are expected to attend, including national and international entrepreneurs and investors, including from the ASEAN region, as well as tourism sector associations and development partners. 

The event has the support of several organisations, including the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, TradeInvest Timor-Leste, the National Tourism Authority, and the collaboration of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group.

For more information and to register, visit www.TLTourismForum.com