Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, September 17, 2014
Garuda to fly to Timor-Leste
The Indonesian national airline Garuda is set to commence daily flights from Denpasar to Dili in October.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Dili on the 26th of August by Garuda’s President and CEO Emirsyah Satar and Air Timor’s Director Abessy Bento in the presence of Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão and Indonesia’s President H.E. Susilo Bambang Yuhoyono. Under the Memorandum of Understanding Air Timor will facilitate the sales of Garuda tickets.
The new flights offered by Garuda cater to growing interest in Timor-Leste as a tourist destination and as a regional business hub.
As a priority sector in Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan tourism shows huge potential for growth. In 2013 tourist arrivals increased by 74% on 2012 figures and were seven times greater than the arrivals recorded in 2007. Timor-Leste’s pristine beaches, picturesque mountains, world-class scuba diving assets and rich cultural heritage are just some of the attractions in a destination only a few hours away for travellers from South East Asia, the Pacific and Australia.
On top of that Timor-Leste is placed to take advantage of the Trilateral Zone for sub-regional development which promotes economic cooperation between Indonesia, Australia and Timor-Leste focussing particularly on opportunities within Kupang, Timor-Leste and the Northern Territory.
Facilities for travellers are constantly being built, upgraded and developed.
Government Spokesperson, Agio Pereria welcomed the new flights noting that “increased connectivity will allow for more visitors to discover Timor-Leste as a place for both holidays and business. A developing tourist sector is a key pillar of our plan to diversify Timor-Leste’s economy and these new flights are further evidence of a growing confidence in our nation as a place of beauty and opportunity.”