Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Dili, October 27th, 2016
Government shares Draft Tourism Policy at International Conference
This week has been a significant one for the Tourism Sector in Timor-Leste. From the 24th to the 26th of October the International Conference on Emerging Tourism Destinations was held at the Dili Convention Centre where the Draft Tourism Policy for Timor-Leste was released for comment. Also, as covered in another media release, the Government’s new Tourism website www.timorleste.tl was officially launched.
Minister of State, Coordinator of Economic Affairs and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, H.E. Estanislau da Silva explained at the Opening Ceremony of the International Conference that Tourism was “highly for the future of Timor-Leste’s economy and for the quality of life we want to ensure for all citizens of this country and for generations to come” and called on the participants to “accompany Timor-Leste in our quest to grow tourism on the grounds of sustainability, community, high quality standards, and business competitiveness.”
The International Conference on Emerging Tourism Destinations, was sponsored by the Government and organized by the Dili Institute of Technology [Timor-Leste] and the University of Algarve [Portugal] to “examine contemporary challenges and opportunities for emergent tourism destinations, share good practices, stimulate dialogue, and develop scenarios in the field of hospitality and tourism within the globalized environment.” Hundreds of participants, including visiting experts from around the globe convened to consider many aspects of tourism including Policy and Tourism Destination Management, Tourism Adventure and Infrastructure, Innovation, Product Development and Marketing and Tourism Opportunities and Challenges. Special attention was given to Tourism and its contribution to the Sustainable Development of Timor-Leste.
During the Conference the Draft Tourism Policy for Timor-Leste: Growing Tourism to 2030 – Creating a Sense of National Identity, was released for comment. The Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, with specialized technical assistance, has prepared the draft policy for comment and is seeking to finalize policy by the end of the year. The policy can be viewed and comments submitted at https://tourismpolicytimorleste.wordpress.com/
Minister of State Estanislau da Silva said that the policy was a milestone in a process that would take time, noting that it had an important part to play in helping “to build a tourism sector enabling environment, that will be inclusive, viable and beneficial to all Timorese People.” The plan envisages revenue from overseas tourism to reach US $150 million per year, employment in the sector reaching 15,000 and 200,000 international tourists visiting annually with an average stay of four days, by 2030.
Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment, H.E. Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão in closing the conference on the afternoon of the 26th of October highlighted “the breath-taking beauty of our country – with our pristine beaches, corals, maritime fauna, tropical forests and picturesque mountains – all of which can provide unforgettable experiences for any traveller” and referred to “endless opportunities for our tourism industry” which can “be boosted to generate revenue and to support other important sectors within our economy.” He assured “we will do so in a way that preserves our unique natural and cultural environment” and thanked all participants for their valuable contribution.”ENDS