Working in partnership, USAID’s Tourism For All Project, Heineken Timor S.A., Telkomcel and the Directorate General of Tourism have developed a new travel app, GoTimor.

GoTimor is a mobile application featuring the many great experiences that Timor-Leste has to offer to local people and expatriates. Through a single portal, the GoTimor app connects users with all of the information needed to plan trips and outings, with features such as Google map integration, a customer rating system and the ability to share plans with friends and family via digital media. It will also offer a marketing opportunity to smaller businesses who lack the budget for print advertising or brochures and help to promote special events and offers on a regular basis.

Not only is the app free to use and download, it is also free for businesses to list their services and details. For the next year, Telkomcel is managing the app and collating content, which is mainly focused on Dili businesses at present. Contact  [email protected] for information about how businesses can have their information included in the app.

The GoTimor app can be downloaded here:

Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=appgotimorapp.wpapp

Apple link: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/gotimor/id1581703288

DILI, October 12, 2021 – The United States congratulates Timor-Leste for launching the Faith-based Tourism Association (Asosiasaun Turizmu Relijiozu Timor-Leste-ATRTL) today at Dili Cathedral on the anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit to the country in 1989.

The launch ceremony follows many years of collaboration by religious leaders with U.S. support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the USAID’s Tourism For All Project to establish faith-based tourism in Timor-Leste.  U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley, and Acting USAID Mission Director Harold Carey were pleased to join Senior Timor-Leste government officials, the Archbishop of Dili, Dom.Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, the Vatican’s representative in Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi,  at the launch ceremony.

“Faith-based tourism presents a tremendous economic opportunity for Timor-Leste, with a significant number of tourists from neighboring countries within close reach,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley. “It also helps to advance human rights and respect for differences.  Building on our respect for religious freedom and diversity, the U.S. Mission to Timor-Leste hopes that the Association will spur job creation for young people, bring prosperity to communities nationwide, and help Timor-Leste diversify its economy.”

Photo c. Arlindo Soares/USAID’s Tourism For All Project

Official registration in July 2021 opened the way for the association to receive a $110,000 grant from the Government of Timor-Leste that will support operations as it strives to capture a portion of the estimated $18 billion global religious tourism market.  According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, up to 330 million tourists visit religious sites around the globe every year.

USAID’s Tourism For All project brought diverse groups of faith leaders together in 2018 to set up a working group to explore the potential for faith-based tourism.  The working group subsequently organized an international tourism conference under the theme of ‘Peace, Harmony and Fellowship: Faith-based Tourism Development.”  The next steps for ATRTL include a national survey of faith-based tourism attractions and hospitality and tour guide training for young people.  Association members are also discussing an annual interfaith festival and plans to create a peace garden.

ATRTL President Father Angelo Salsinha expressed his appreciation for the support the association has received. “I would like to thank God for giving power to the team comprising USAID’s Tourism for All Project, the Government of Timor-Leste, and the Faith-based Tourism Association, for their willingness, unity, and commitment to work together to get the association registered legally,” he said.  “I would especially like to thank USAID’s Tourism For All for accompanying us in the whole process. I believe that with the experience gained, we will work more professionally to ensure our association’s sustainability and future well-being.”

As one of Timor-Leste’s senior Catholic clergymen, Father Salsinha wants to make sure that respect for religion is a key priority as ATRTL draws up its strategic plan, a feeling shared by leaders of the other faiths represented in the association.  One of the challenges facing the association is to raise awareness and to work for community engagement in places of value to the faith-based tourism market. ATRTL plans to allocate 50 percent of the Government of Timor-Leste grant to train community leaders and young people to receive faith-based tourists with respect.  The funding will also go towards hospitality training and tour development to extend economic benefits to those communities and others across the country.  ATRTL will work through its different faith networks to develop a marketing strategy to entice regional visitors and promote domestic faith-based tourism.

For more information, contact the USAID/Timor-Leste Communications Team at [email protected]

Photo c. Arlindo Soares/USAID’s Tourism For All Project

In the early morning pre-dawn light, against the backdrop of spectacular Mount Curi  a dugout canoe motors out on the still, flat ocean.  The sea quickly changes colour to dark blue, as they pass the shallow, narrow blue ribbon of fringing coral reef, with the seabed plummeting to over 3km deep.  Marine Wildlife Officer, Potenzo Lopes sits at the helm of the narrow boat – binoculars and a large zoom camera in hand – watching the ocean.  Faustino Mauloko da Cunha, a local fisherman from the village of We-Ua (in Subaun), drives the small wooden boat, while his son, Zacarias, joins Potenzo is scanning the horizon with his binoculars.

Photo c. David de Cunha 

 

Every day, and all day, for the past 60 days, Potenzo, Faustino and the local fishermen and youth of Subaun and Behau have been watching and looking for one of Timor-Leste’s ‘biggest’ tourist attractions – the Pygmy Blue Whale.  Up to 24 metres long, the blue whale undertakes it annual southern migration every September-December, along the very deep coastal waters off the north coast of Timor-Leste.

Timor-Leste is a recognized ‘global hotspot’ for whales and dolphins, with over 20 species recorded in its waters, including migratory and endangered species, such as Pygmy Blue Whales and Sperm Whales.  With annual migrations – often very close to shore – it also provides some of the best and most accessible, whale-watching in the world.

Once a blue whale or sperm whale is sighted – the network of local fishermen use their mobile phones to share and pass on this information quickly to local Dili-based, commercial whale tour operators.  In other countries, successful commercial whale watching relies heavily on ‘spotter planes’ with individual operators hiring small aircraft to identify the number and precise location of whales.  In Timor-Leste, the local ‘whale spotter network’ at Subaun is not only helping tour operators to locate whales and improve the whale tourism experience – but it is also providing knowledge and extraordinary insights into Timor-Leste’s whales and dolphins.

Photo: 1. Children from We-Ua (Marmore, Subaun) learning about whales and dolphins using online resources; Photo 2. Small young Pygmy Blue Whale calves were often seen close to their mothers. Photo c. Potenzo Lopes

Like many subsistence fishers, local fishers in Timor-Leste are great observers of the ocean and marine life.  This extraordinary local knowledge and skills combined with training in ‘citizen science’ – recognising the blows of animals, and distinctive features – have also enabled fishers to identify different whale and dolphin species, including from their whale blows from long distances away.

With local fishermen fishing daily, and coastal villages nestled close to small local beaches – local whale spotters have recorded hundreds of Pygmy Blue Whales every year, including single adult whales, and mothers with their young calves – and also, large pods of Sperm Whales and dolphins.  They have also, heard individual whales blowing as they passed through the still of the night.  The coastal mountains of Subaun also provide cliffs and hillsides with excellent panoramic views of the ocean, to enable whales to be spotted both, inshore and far offshore; and also, to record the movements and behaviour of whales, including feeding behaviour.  Using drone technology, ‘close-up’ photographs of individuals whales are also providing us with excellent information about the body condition and overall health of individual animals.

Potenzo, an accomplished nature-photographer, conservationist and science communicator is perfectly suited to supervise this citizen science and community outreach and education program.  Previously employed with BirdLife International, Potenzo honed his technical photographic and research skills recording and photographing Timor-Leste birds.  Birds, like whales, move fast and often over long distances.  And yes, like birds, a great deal of skill and patience is required to capture good images of whales !

This citizen science whale program in Timor-Leste is not only extremely valuable for local whale tour operations in providing ‘real-time’ daily sightings of whales – but it has also strengthened the cooperation and relationships between whale researchers, local tour operators and local fishermen.  With local tour operators sharing whale sightings information, behaviour observations, and also, photographs and videos of whales – underwater, above water and also, from drones.

For the small nation of Timor-Leste, the whale watching industry has been growing rapidly over the past few years, with a great deal of international and domestic tourism interest.  With some of the world’s best whale-watching – local whale tourism operators in Timor-Leste are committed to a sustainable whale tourism industry and ‘world-class’ whale-watching standards to protect the country’s globally-significant populations of whales, dolphins and dugongs. Photo: ATM-TL Marine Wildlife Officer, Potenzo Lopes aboard his whale spotting canoe with local Subaun fisherman, Faustino Mauloko da Cunha.

Tour operators also understand that knowledge, information and monitoring is also essential and critical to ensure a sustainable industry. While national whale-watching Guidelines for Timor-Leste were launched last year, adopting global standards – Government regulations are yet to be passed.  Recognising this gap, the Assosiasaun Turizmu Maritima Timor-Leste (or ATM-TL), Timor-Leste’s national marine tourism association, established an industry certification scheme, specifically to support global ‘best practice’ whale-watching – and promote ‘responsible whale tour operators’. A key component of the certification includes the provision and sharing of whale and dolphin sightings and information from tour operations – to support the ongoing monitoring, conservation and management of Timor-Leste extraordinary whale and dolphin species and populations.

Since 2020, the ‘Responsible Whale Tour Operator’ certification allows enable tourists to easily identify tour operators who are committed to the national Guidelines and global ‘best practice’ whale-watching – including operators who are committed to science, knowledge and improved understanding of these majestic and iconic marine animals.

And with operators increasingly including whale science, conservation and education as a vital and integral part of the whale tourism experience – this is indeed, excellent news for Timor-Leste’s whales, and for tourists.  And for the future of the whale tourism industry in Timor-Leste.

Professor Karen Edyvane

National University of Timor-Leste

President, Assosiasaun Turizmu Maritima iha Timor Leste

The Timor-Leste ‘whale spotter program’ is supported with a grant from the USAID TfA program. And builds on 5 years of whale and dolphin research, monitoring and ‘citizen science’ led by the National University of Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the newly-established ATM-TL (Marine Tourism Association of Timor-Leste). 

During the last quarter several key tourism initiatives were undertaken in Oé-Cusse that were part of the UNDP and SAR-ZEESM Tourism Project. These projects and activities are designed to build capacity within the community, correct the skills and knowledge gap in tourism, and to improve the quality of hospitality services and attractions in Oé-Cusse. There were all executed in collaboration with the Community Tourism Unit under the Office of the President Authority’s Cabinet in keeping with the recommendations of the Regional Strategic Plan (2019-2023), and the National Tourism Policy for Oé-Cusse. 

HOSPITALITY & JEWELRY MAKING TRAINING BENEFIT 108 PARTICIPANTS

One hundred and eight (108) participants recently benefitted from a Hospitality and a Jewellery Making training programme held from August 9-11, 2021. Both courses lasted (3) days and took place at the ETV Palaban High School in Pante-Macassar and were facilitated by the East Timor Development Agency (ETDA).

The hospitality training was attended by fifty-nine (59) participants. The subject matters covered in the first two (2) days were customer care and service, personal hygiene, workplace health and safety, cleaning the kitchen and food preparation. The third day focused on practical cooking skills with Chef Rey from ETDA. Participants were able to use common local produce found in the market in Oé-Cusse to prepare delicious food and drink items such as tamarind juice with ginger, pumpkin soup, rice croquettes and biscuit cake.

For the jewellery training, forty-nine (49) participants were exposed to and practiced the techniques needed to make earrings, necklaces, and bracelets with wooden or plastic beads. They also learnt costing and how to price their products to ensure profitable results. The expectation is that the participants can now be creative and produce products with local materials, that can be an extra source of income. For both courses most of the participants were from the youth segment and 60% per cent were female.

13 YOUNG PERSONS FROM OÉ-CUSSE TRAINED AS TOUR GUIDES

From September 29^th to October 1^st, thirteen (13) young persons participated in tour guide training program at the SRESS Conference Room in Pante Macassar, Oé-Cusse. This training was part of the tourism and hospitality capacity building programme under the SAR-ZEESM Tourism Project and followed a similar tour guide training that took place in 2019 for 25 persons.

This 3-day tour guide training was facilitated by the East Timor Development Agency (ETDA). During the first two (2) days participants focused on getting to know the tourism product, the importance of a good personality, how to collect tourism information, and preparing, coordinating, and leading an organized tour. On the third day they worked on designing tour packages, followed by a practical exercise in the field.  Here participants applied their newly learnt skills and knowledge to conduct practice tours. The training ended with a certificate ceremony.

NEW WEBSITE www.visitoecusse.tl TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN OÉ-CUSSE

After months of design work a new tourism promotional website for Oé-Cusse www.visitoecusse.tl was finally completed and launched in November. This new website promotes all the major tourism attractions, products and services offered in Oé-Cusse in a very visually attractive format and design.

The main feature on the home page is a short promotional video that highlights and showcases the natural beauty and main attractions of Oé-Cusse. The page also provides easy links to the four main sections of the website that provides general information about Oé-Cusse, what things to see and do, information for trip planning, and news and events. From every page on the website there are links to the new Visit Oé-Cusse Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social media accounts that were also recently created to also promote tourism to the enclave.

In terms of languages, the site is currently available in English, Portuguese, and Indonesian Bahasa and Tetum will be added soon. This very visually attractive website was created by a team of local web designers based in Oé-Cusse and Dili under the guidance of the of the tourism team at the UNDP.

REDESIGNED TOURISM BROCHURES

The three (3) main tourism marketing collateral pieces for Oé-Cusse have been revamped and redesigned for printing. These are the Things to See and Do brochure, the Hiking and Walking Guide and the Map of Oé-Cusse.

The Things to See and Do brochure is 36-page booklet with detailed information and attractive photos covering the history of Oé-Cusse, points of interest, activities, trip planning information, and a services directory. In the Hiking and Walking Guide, detailed information the six (6) main trekking trails (Fonte Sagrada, Kutete, Pa’is-Bisae Sunaf, Maombelon, Fatu-Suba and Via Sacra) are provided. The Guide also has details on hiking tips, general information about Oé-Cusse, a trails map and contact information. The updated map provides an overall representation of the geography of Oé-Cusse, key points of interest, a detailed map of Pante Macassar and a services directory.

All three (3) of these attractive, highly visual, and reader-friendly marketing collateral pieces have been produced in English and Tetum. They will provide valuable and practical information to visitors and promote Oé-Cusse to prospective travellers and promote the four main pillars of the region’s tourism sector: Coastal tourism, Nature tourism, Cultural tourism, and Business tourism.

ARTE MORIS STREET ART PROJECT

A team of seven (7) artists from Arte Moris were in Oé-Cusse from mid-October to mid- November to facilitate a major street art installation along the wall at Alfandega in the capital Pante Macassar. The artwork showcases in a tangible way the long and colorful culture and history of Oé-Cusse, making it now an important attraction for tourists and locals. Additionally, the area in front of the artwork were given a major facelift with flower beds, plants, benches and fencing also being installed.

Prior to the artwork installation, a socialization was held on October 19^th with the community, the local authorities, and other stakeholders. The main purpose of the activity was to discuss the nature and type of artwork and landscaping to be installed, and how the local community can monetize and benefit from Oé-Cusse’s newest tourist attraction. The monitoring and maintenance of the project after completion was also on the socialization agenda, to ensure that the art painted remains of a high quality.

Following the socialization, Arte Moris also conducted a three (3) day art training programme from October 20-22 for 25 young aspiring artists from Oé-Cusse at the Alfandega Hall in Pante Macassar. Ten (10) of these young persons also became volunteer painters and supported the team from Arte Moris in executing the street art installation and were prepared for managing upkeep of the area.

All photos credit to UNDP

The COVID19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of health and safety practices in international travel and tourism. As countries around the world reopen borders, international tourist are prioritising health and safety when deciding their post-pandemic holiday destinations. All stakeholders in the tourism industry of Timor-Leste need to work collaboratively to promote Timor-Leste as a safe destination. This can only be achieved by continuing to improve the safety management skills of tourism workers at a ground level. In Timor-Leste, we often travel to tourist locations that are remote and isolated from medical facilities and emergency services. This presents a unique set of risks and challenges to ensure safe tourism experiences. It is essential that when tourists travel in Timor-Leste they receive a world class standard of service with their safety and security as the number one consideration.

Safe Tourism Workshop group: Timor Unearthed, Agora Food Studio, Dreamers Dive Academy, Atauro Island Homestay Association, Beto Tasi Homestay Association, Blue Ventures, Kafe Natar Rohan, Balibo Trails, Hatu Bulico Guides.

What would happen if a tourist was severely injured or killed in Timor-Leste? A single major health and safety incident has the potential to cause significant damage to the reputation of Timor-Leste’s entire tourism industry and impact all tourism stakeholders. We must make it a top priority to upskill the tourism workforce and businesses to manage tourist safety.

In July 2021 Timor Unearthed in partnership with USAID’s Tourism For All Project implemented a project titled ‘Rebooting Safe Tourism In Timor-Leste’ (Hamoris Hikaas Turizmu Ne’ebe Seguro Iha Timor-Leste). The project aimed to upskill tourism workers to provide a safer tourism experience and raise awareness about safe tourism through a domestic social media campaign.

Group field trip to Cristo Rei to conduct tour scenarios and identify potential hazards and risks.

Our project team consisted of Alex Johnson (TU Director), and three Safe Tourism Trainers Anas Madeira (TU Operations Manager), Shella Smith, and Avanti Morisco. Our team conducted a series of online training sessions to improve our trainer’s knowledge on safety management. The training focused on hazard and risk identification skills, strategies to manage risks and design safer tourism experiences, and how to complete tourism activity risk assessments. Our team designed a 5 day safe tourism workshop intended to share this knowledge with 10 tourism workers from various organisations across Timor-Leste. The workshop was designed to be educational and engaging and promote creativity and collaboration. In addition to learning about safety in tourism, the workshop group designed infographic and video content that would feature in an online awareness campaign across social media in Timor-Leste.

Over the course of the 5 day workshop the Safe Tourism trainers facilitated theoretical presentations, group work activities, and practical sessions. This included field trips to Cristo Rei and Dare waterfall, hosting 10 tourism university graduates for a 1 day training session, and working in partnership with Pixel Asia Productions to produce safe tourism videos.

On the road filming safe tourism video’s with the Pixel Asia team.

“I am happy and grateful to Timor Unearthed for providing this training. It is a new experience for me. This training is essential for tourism because safety and security are essential for the tour guide. If there is a lack of safety and security it can have a devastating impact on tourism, and it is necessary to prioritize safety and security.” – Manuel Marques – (Association Tourism Ramelau Blehitu and Kablake / ASTRABEKA)

 

The workshop group created 4 infographics and 3 videos which were promoted on Facebook across Timor-Leste in a social media awareness campaign. The campaign went viral with over 17,600+ reactions, and 1000+ shares on Timor-Leste’s Facebook network. The safe tourism materials reached over 223,000 people in Timor-Leste – that’s over 17% of the entire population of Timor-Leste viewing at least one of the safe tourism materials! It was fantastic to see Timor-Leste’s online community supporting our campaign and sharing the importance of safety in the tourism industry. You can access all the safe tourism online resources here.

A special thank you to all the partnering organisations and representatives who participated in the workshop, Facebook users who shared our message online, and USAID’s Tourism For All Project for supporting our grant activity.

 

Rebooting Safe Tourism Workshop

https://www.facebook.com/timorunearthed/videos/2506348962828766/

 

10 Tips to a Safe Hiking Experience

https://www.facebook.com/timorunearthed/videos/920470015204992/

 

10 Tips to a Safe Driving Experience

https://www.facebook.com/timorunearthed/videos/380702276848939/

Group work activity creating tourism activities map and identifying associated hazards and risks

Group work activity with tourism graduate students presenting safe tourism infographic designs.

On the road filming safe tourism video’s with the Pixel Asia team.

All photos taken by Anas Madeira, Shella Smith and Avanti Morisco from Timor Unearthed

Tourism For All Project celebrated World Tourism Day 2021 with the second annual Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu Tourism Champions awards. Thirteen companies, individuals and organizations were recognized for their exceptional contribution to tourism and to society, in what has been an exceptionally challenging year for the industry. This year, there were three awards categories, reflecting the particular challenges the sector has faced in Timor-Leste: Tourism Champions, Solidarity Champions USAID’s and Climate Champions.

Four of the winners have shared the stories behind the awards: Ego Lemos, Robert Crean, Adino Boavida and Pro Ema.

For more information and a full list of winners, click here: (https://www.timorleste.tl/usaid-celebrates-world-tourism…/ ).

Ego Lemos, Climate Champion:  Music with a message

Photo c. USAID’s Tourism For All Project/Ann Turner

Music fans in Timor-Leste and overseas know Ego Lemos as a singer-songwriter. His song “Balibo” featured in the 2009 film of the same name (insert link http://www.balibo.com.au/) and he won two industry awards for it.  But the Tourism Climate Champion award recognises his continuing work as an environmental activist. Through his organization Permatil, he has been leading and empowering local people to restore the natural environment through community-driven projects. His grassroots initiatives have established more than 250 school gardens, implemented over 100 water-source rehabilitation and conservation projects, and equipped more than 41,000 school children with the knowledge to sustain the environment for future generations.

Timor-Leste is vulnerable to two extremes of climate change: drought and floods. “I have witnessed that many of the natural springs sometimes dry up completely and the local people have to walk for a long distance searching for water, especially women and children, and climate change has an impact on food production as well. So it’s changing a lot. And when the rains come, it’s heavier than before. So for my organisation Permatil we have to act as quickly as possible to raise awareness and train more people into taking action”.

Since 2008, more than 5,000 young people have attended Permatil youth camps, where Lemos and his team spread the conservation message through practical land and water management workshops and music.  This year, there was a greater sense of urgency, as Timor-Leste suffered catastrophic floods and landslides in April, killing more than 40 people.  Lemos performed his song, “Haburas Rai” (Greening the Land) (insert link) https://youtu.be/KCUtSTB6RqY, a call for people to stop felling trees and lighting grass fires, both of which cause soil erosion and increase the threat of landslides.

Lemos’ vision for the future of tourism in Timor-Leste is firmly centred in conservation. Speaking from the site of a permanent youth camp he is establishing in the hills above Dili,: “From my point of view, I think rather than building a big hotel in the middle of nowhere, the middle of beautiful nature, I think is best to support local community guesthouses and promote the local cuisine. And I think it’s a better way to establish tourism cooperatives, so that the company or the business can contribute in two ways: benefiting the tourism industry but also benefiting the local economy without destroying the environment and local culture.”

Lemos said that he was surprised to learn that he had won a Climate Champion award: “It’s an honour, to receive the recognition,” he said, “but I don’t want to just receive the award, and then that’s it, stop working. I have to work again and more. Yeah, I have to do it more”.

Rob Crean, Tourism Champion: Commitment and Investment
Photo c. USAID’s Tourism For All Project/ Ann Turner & Compass Diving 

One of the very first foreign investors in Timor-Leste, Robert Crean set up SVSC, a vehicle maintenance business, in 1999. The country was in ruins following the country’s violent transition to independence after 25 years of Indonesian rule. Tens of thousands of development and humanitarian workers had streamed into Dili to help rebuild the world’s newest country, and SVSC was tasked with keeping their cars on the road. He soon diversified into marine transport, operating a water taxi to Atauro island, which was isolated, with just one weekly ferry service.

“When I first saw Atauro, it was just an amazing place. There were mountains on one side and the ocean on the other and there are not many places in the world you get both,” Crean said. He soon moved into marine tourism, opening Compass Diving and building a resort within the community of Adara.  His company now employs more than 30 people, of whom 80% are Timorese.

Compass Diving instructor Cassio Schumacher has been been conducting field courses in sustainable tourism and conservation for Timorese marine science students from the National University, a project funded through a grant from USAID’s Tourism For All Project. “So we’re showing them what tourism can do to protect the reefs, to protect the environment, to protect the mountains and all the flora and fauna and working to increase tourism so that people can actually see it untouched and in a natural state.” Crean said, “The kids love it. They absolutely love it. When they get off the boat they really don’t want to go home. We show them whales and dolphins and things that they’ve never seen in their lifetime. We’re training them to recognize the different species and the different types of coral”.

Just as Atauro island was attracting international attention as a global hotspot for whalewatching and scuba diving, the Coronavirus pandemic broke out and tourism ground to a halt. Crean had started improving the facilities at Adara resort and had begun construction on a luxury guest bungalow. “All the plans and things that we had coming, it’s all just gone by the wayside. But it’s still there, we still have the land, we still have the sea, we still have the coral reef, we still have the backing of the people of Atauro,” he said. The Tourism Champion Award has boosted his resolve to stay the course: “It is a struggle but that makes it worthwhile. It means something to be recognized for the fact that we are still working towards developing local and international tourism in Timor-Leste”.

Jeremias “Adino” Boavida, Head Waiter at Caz Bar, Tourism Champion: The Power of One

Photo c. USAID’s Tourism For All Project/Ann  Turner

Ten years ago, Jeremias “Adino” Boavida was working as a security guard. His life changed when he presented himself at the popular Dili beachfront restaurant, the Caz Bar, to ask for a part time job. Caz Bar owner Carron Dutch remembers, “He ended up coming on full time. Because he liked it. And we liked him. And it all worked out. He was always happy and obliging and helping customers”. Boavida – now head waiter – was nominated for a Tourism Champions award by one of those happy customers, who wrote: “Over the many years that he has worked there, I have not seen a day that he has not given his best. Every Caz Bar customer knows him very well for his professionalism, and friendly and spiritual attitude. I have not met a better Timorese worker in the tourism sector.”

He had no formal training in tourism but picked up his skills on the job. Boavida rarely forgets a name, has a good memory for customers’ favorite drinks and dishes and is keen to share tourism information with them.  He has taught himself basic greetings in English, Japanese, French, Italian and Mandarin.

Boavida is keen to do whatever he can to help the industry develop in his country: “I was very happy when I found out I had won an award,” he said, “And I’d like to take this opportunity to ask the government to take a look at the beaches around Dili and to plant more trees so that the tourists can sit in the shade. I would also like to ask young people not to drop litter, just put it in the bin. We need to work together to attract more visitors to Timor-Leste.”

Now that international tourism has stopped due to COVID, Boavida is working to make Timorese visitors feel welcome: “They come here from the mountains to spend time at the beach,” he explained, “Some Timorese people don’t know about French fries and pizza and I encourage them to try new things. They enjoy it and then they come back. I cut them a nice, cold coconut and they watch the sunset.”

There is a legend in Timor-Leste that once you drink the coconut milk, you are destined to return. Boavida hopes that is true for his past customers and looks forward to seeing them again when international travel resumes: “Normally my friends are coming from England, from Australia, from America. I can’t wait to say to them, maybe next year, ‘Welcome back! Good to see you again! Long time, no see!”.

Pro Ema Training Restaurant, Solidarity Champion: Culinary Excellence, Served with Compassion

Photo c. USAID’s Tourism For All Project/Ann Turner 

As a social enterprise offering training, employment and economic independence to vulnerable young Timorese women, it could be said that solidarity is Pro Ema’s business model. In 2018, Pro Ema Director Simone Assis brought in top chefs to train the staff and the flagship restaurant is considered to be one of the best in Dili. Since then, the organization has expanded: there are now three restaurants, a salon and artisan chocolate and ice cream factories. Pro Ema supports more than 40 women, some of whom are survivors of sexual violence and have been living in shelters for security reasons.

When Timor-Leste was hit by catastrophic floods on April 4^th, scores of people were killed and thousands displaced to evacuation camps. Pro Ema immediately responded with a massive relief effort. Through its “Together We Are Stronger” campaign, they raised more than $30,000 in relief funds, cooked and distributed more than 30,000 meals to flood victims in evacuation camps, along with more than 20,000 kilograms of raw rice and 850 basic needs packages, including items such as groceries, bedding, kitchen utensils and face masks. After the initial impact of the floods, it took days for the water to subside, and some roads were blocked by landslides or completely destroyed. The Pro Ema team had to navigate perilous conditions as they travelled around the capital collecting and delivering donations.

Pro Ema Deputy Director Ana Paulina da Costa remembers the day the team first entered the camps: “It was a big shock. There were many people who had lost their homes and all of their possessions. I felt so sad. And it wasn’t a safe place for them, or us, because of the pandemic. We knew that we had to keep our distance but they had to sleep close to each other in crowded conditions – it was also risky for the women – but they had no choice. We did what we could to help.”  With thousands of hungry people to be fed, the Pro Ema team put their cooking skills to good use, setting up field kitchens to prepare nutritious meals for all.

When Pro Ema was announced as a Solidarity Champion, Assis was swift to react: “This is award is not just for Pro Ema. It belongs to everyone who joined hands to help, alongside our whole team, who worked day in, day out for six months to support the flood victims.  Our motto is “Together We Are Stronger”. We couldn’t have done it alone”.

Author: USAID’s Tourism For All Project/Ann Turner

DILI, 8 Outubru 2021 – Ajénsia Estadus Unidus ba Dezenvolvimentu Internasionál (USAID, sigla Inglés) liuhusi Projetu “Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu”, selebra Loron Turizmu Mundiál 2021 ho Kampiaun ba “Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu” iha tinan daruak nian, hodi rekoñese organizasaun no individu sira ne’ebé halo ona kontribuisaun siknifikante ba indústria turizmu iha Timor-Leste. Projetu ne’e mós kontinua ninia atividade Embaixadór (a) Foin-sae ba tinan datoluk nian, ho kompetisaun diskursu públiku ba feto no mane foin-sae sira ho tema Loron Mundiál Turizmu iha tinan ida ne’e “Turizmu Ba Kresimentu Inkluzivu” USAID no parseiru sira sei rekoñese manan-nain sira ne’e iha serimónia ida ne’ebé sei hala’o iha loron 8 fulan-Outubru iha Rezidénsia Embaixadór Estadus Unidus Amérika nian iha Dili.

“Programa fó apresiasaun ba Kampiaun Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu hanesan manifestasaun apoiu EUA nian ba setór turizmu iha Timor-Leste,” dehan Enkaregadu Negósiu Embaixada EUA Tom Daley. “Ne’e hanesan ksolok ida atu selebra prestasaun feto no mane hirak ne’ebé sira-nia dedikasaun servisu ativu tebes hodi bele ajuda Timor-Leste sai destinasaun vizita ba turista sira. Sira kontinua ativa sira-nia negósiu durante pandemia COVID-19 no hanoin kreativu oinsá atu habo’ot liután oportunidade turizmu iha Timor-Leste.”

Marka prezensa iha eventu ne’e inklui Diretór Misaun USAID, Sr. Harold Carey, ofisiál governu, no lideransa sira husi Asosiasaun Turizmu Relijiozu Timor-Leste (ATRTL). Eventu ne’e organiza ho apoiu husi parseiru korporativu Heineken Timor-Leste, East Timor Trading, Asosiasaun Na’in ba Hoteis iha Timor Lorosa’e (HOTL-sigla Inglés), no Guide Post Magazine

Kampiaun bá “Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu” hala’o iha tempu difisil ne’ebé enfrenta husi negósius turizmu, relasiona ho COVID-19 ne’ebé sai hanesan impaktu ba viajen internasionál no funsionamentu negósius lokál no mós estragus inundasaun ne’ebé akontese iha rai-laran iha fulan Abril. Atu refleta dezafiu hirak ne’ebé setór turizmu enfrenta iha fulan hirak nia laran, USAID-nia projetu Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu kria kategoria tolu: Kampiaun Turizmu, Kampiaun Solidaridade, no Kampiaun Klima. Projetu USAID halo selesaun ba Kampiaun Sira liuhusi nomeasaun painél votu online, ne’ebé loke ba Timoroan sira iha rai laran no mós ema sira iha rai liur ne’ebé vizita ona Timor-Leste. Enkuantu atividade painél interna nian ida husi USAID nia projetu Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu hili manan-nain sira bazeia ba komentáriu ba kuesionariu nomeasaun ne’ebé preparadu liuhusi online

Utilizadóres Rede Internet nomeia Kampiaun Turizmu sira bazeia ba esforsu hirak ne’ebé sira halo ona atu suporta turizmu sustentavél iha Timor-Leste hodi promove no proteje nasaun nia atrasaun no kulturál turístiku sira. Painél hili kampiaun na’in ualu iha kategoria ida ne’e:

• Alito Rosa no Konservasaun Flora no Fauna: grupu voluntáriu ne’ebé halo sensibilizasaun kona-ba protesaun ambientál iha Sentru Ai-Parapa Hera, ne’ebé sai hanesan mós atrasaun turístiku foun ba Timor-Leste.
• Jeremias “Adino” Boavida, Xefe Servente iha Restorante Caz Bar: Adino fornese ona ezemplu di’ak kona-ba atendimentu kliente ba bainaka sira iha ninia kareira servisu durante tinan sanely resin. Nia mós hetan apresiasaun kona-ba ninia entuziasmu hodi fornese informasaun turístiku no viajen nian ba vizitante sira.
• Robert Crean no Compass Diving Team: Kampiaun ne’e rekoñese Robert Crean ba ninia komitmentu durante tinan 13 iha turizmu marítima iha Timor-Leste, liuhusi servisu hamutuk ho komunidade lokál. Compass Diving ativu tebes iha peskiza biodiversidade no halo sensibilizasaun kona-ba ambientál liuhusi kursu terrenu ne’ebé nia fornese ba estudantes Timoroan.
• Luis “Melky” Bere-Hunu no Dreamers Dive Academy: Nu’udar Timoroan dahuluk ne’ebé sai intrutór kualifikadu iha luku nian, Melky bele fahe ona paixaun ho foin-sae Timoroan sira ne’ebé hakarak tebes atu esplora paijazen tasi-okos iha sira nia nasaun rasik.
• Danny Lee and Ocean View: Danny Lee investe ona iha restorante no guesthouse iha tinan 2020 no husi ne’e kedas nia hahú haboot ninia negósiu ba iha sentru luku, operasaun observasaun baleia, no eskola “kite surfing”. Durante tinan hirak nia laran, nia involve iha komunidade sira iha tasi-ibun hodi hala’o atividade ba protesaun ambiente maritima.
• Manukoko Rek, Atauro: Hala’o husi grupu feto lokál, guesthouse no restorante ne’e investe ninia lukru pursentu 100 ba iha komunidade, servisu hamutuk ho rede negósiu ki’ik sira artezenatu ninian, no hamosu rendimentu hodi suporta família kbiit-laek sira ne’ebé hela iha parte illa nian.
• Carlos Soares, Lauhata Resort Liquica: Nu’udar emprendedór turístiku dahuluk ne’ebé investe iha Liquica, Carlos Soares fó ona formasaun no servisu ba foin-sae lokál sira atu fornese atendimentu di’ak-liu ba bainaka sira iha ninia guesthouse no restorante. Nia mós enkoraja bainaka sira atu kuda ai-oan sira iha jardín rezort nian.
• Francisco Alexandre Pereira, Bollore International: nu’udar ofisiais ba servisu aviasaun, iha Aeroportu Prezidente Nicolau Lobato, Dili, “Alex” Pereira hetan apresiasaun maka’as husi pasajeiru sira kona-ba ninia apoiu no asisténsia ba pasajeiru sira iha situasaun difisil no ba hirak ne’ebé presiza tebes tulun.

Kampiaun Solidaridade ne’e atu rekoñese negósiantes turístiku hirak ne’ebé halo ona esforsu hodi ajuda ema sira ne’ebé afetadu husi akontesimentu rua mak hanesan pandemia virus-korona no inundasaun husi Anin-Fuik Seroja iha fulan-Abril. Ema nain 40 resin mak mate iha inundasaun no uma-kain rihun-ba-rihun mak refujia ba sentru evakuasaun hodi ikus mai Governu Timor-Leste hamosu estadu kalamidade. Maske indústria turismu ladún la’o tanba impaktu husi COVID-19, maibé negósiu turístiku balu mobiliza malu hodi ajuda komunidade sira. Painél hili ema nain rua:

• Pro Ema Training Restaurant: Liuhusi ninia kampaña “Hamutuk Ita Forsa”, Pro Ema konsege halibur valór fundus kontribuisaun $30,000 (rihun tolu-nulu) hodi tulun, prepara no distribui hahan liu 30,000 (rihun tolu-nulu) ba vítima inundasaun iha kampu evakuasaun, ho foos kilograma 20,000 (rihun rua-nulu) no pakote nesesiedade baziku 850 (atus ualu lima-nulu), inklui hahan, ropa, sasan dapur no máskara.
• Agora Food Studio: Durante krize COVID-19, negósiu ki’ik Timoroan barak mak dependente deit ba promosaun media sosiál hodi oferese sira-nia atendimentu kona-ba hola hahan no entrega hahan. Ho apoiu husi USAID, Agora Food Studio konsege prodús ona sekuensia video instrutivu hodi ajuda hadia sira-nia abilidade e-marketing no ajuda restorante sira aplika protokolu saúde nian wainhira loke fila-fali.

Inundasaun ne’ebé akontese fó hanoin mós kona-ba impaktu mudansa klimatika. Painél sira hili ema nain tolu sai Kampiaun Klima kona-ba sira-nia esforsu hodi enkoraja negósiu no individu sira atu hala’o sira-nia parte hodi hamenus impaktu mudansa klimatika. Painél hili ema nain tolu:

• Potenzo Lopes: Konservasionista flora no fauna no fotografu ambientál, Potenzo Lopes organiza tour observasaun manu-fuik no hala’o programa edukasaun no fahe informasaun kona-ba flora no fauna no Konservasaun natural ba estudante sira
• Fernando Madeira, DaTerra Agroecological Farm, Baucau: Iha toos no guesthouse ne’ebé harii ho prinsípiu eko-turizmu, vizita grupu eskola sira aprende oinsá atu hamenus impaktu mudansa klimatika hodi halo hamenus impaktu karbonu, uza produtu lokál, kuda ai-oan no konserva bee no enerjia.
• Eugenio “Ego” Lemos, PERMATIL: PERMATIL, grupu ida ne’ebé servisu kona-ba toos sustentavél hodi halo konservasaun ba bee no rai. Desde tinan 2008, foin-sae liu 5000 (rihun lima) mak partisipa ona akampamentu PermaYouth atu aprende kona-ba problema ambiente no hetan abilidade hodi fahe ba sira ida-idak nia komunidade.

Manan-nain Kampiaun Turizmu sira sei ajuda hasa’e morál no konfiansa iha indústria turizmu,” dehan Diretór Interinu Misaun USAID Carey. “Finalista Embaixadór(a) Foin-sae Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu mak lider hirak ne’ebé sei troka malu atu fó esperansa ba futuru turizmu iha Timor-Leste.”

Notísia di’ak mak buat ne’ebé ita presiza tebes iha momentu ida ne’e. Ha’u hatene katak ha’u-nia membru ekipa hotu-hotu sei kontente liután, dehan Diretór Pro Ema, Simone Barbosa de Assis.

Manan-nain ba Embaixadór(a) Foin-sae Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu iha tinan ida ne’e mak Maria Pereira no Ronaldo Ima Dias do Rego, nain-rua ne’e husi estudantes UNTL. Painél sira halo selesaun ba estudantes turizmu univesitáriu hirak ne’e liuhusi kompetisaun diskursu públiku ne’ebé foin lalais hala’o iha Loron Mundiál Turizmu ho tema “Turizmu Ba Kresimentu Inkluzivu” Sira sei aproveita di’ak sira-nia abilidade diskursu públiku nu’udar Embaixadór(a) Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu liuhusi estájiu tinan naruk ida hamutuk ho USAID nia projetu Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu” Sira sei hala’o sensibilizasaun kona-ba buat sira ne’ebé presiza ba dezenvolvimentu turizmu sustentavél, inkluzivu no ko’alia ho foin-sae no komunidade sira iha rai laran.

Relasiona ho tema Loron Mundiál Turizmu nian, komisaun organizadora kompetisaun sei entrega ba Kampiaun Turizmu no Embaixadór(a) Foin-sae Sira ho trofi-vidru ne’ebé prodús husi artista Centru Sover, empreza sosiál ba ema ho defisiénsia, uza ekipamentu ne’ebé oferese husi fundus USAID nia Projetu Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu.

 

Bá informasaun liután, favór kontaktu USAID/Timor-Leste iha [email protected] no [email protected]

DILI, October 8, 2021 – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), through USAID’s Tourism For All Project, is celebrating World Tourism Day 2021 with the second annual Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu Tourism Champions awards, a program to recognize organizations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the tourism industry in Timor-Leste.  The project has also continued its Tourism Youth Ambassadors activity for a third year, with a public speaking competition for young men and women on this year’s World Tourism Day theme, “Tourism For Inclusive Growth.”  USAID and partners recognized the winners at a ceremony on October 8 at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Dili.

“The Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu Champions awards program is a show of U.S. support for Timor-Leste’s tourism sector,” said U.S Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley. “It is a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of the men and women whose hard work is instrumental to helping Timor-Leste become a must-visit destination for tourists. They are keeping their business going during the COVID-19 pandemic and thinking creatively about how to expand tourism opportunities in Timor-Leste.”

Other attendees included Acting USAID Mission Director Harold Carey, government officials, and leaders of the Faith-based Tourism Association (Asosiasaun Turizmu Relijiozu Timor-Leste-ATRTL).  The event was organized with support from corporate partners Heineken Timor-Leste, East Timor Trading, the Hotel Owners of Timor-Leste Association (HOTL), and Guide Post Magazine.

The Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu Tourism Champions awards are taking place at a challenging time for tourism businesses, due to COVID-19 impacts on international travel and local business operations as well as the devastating floods across the country in April.  Reflecting the challenges the tourism sector has faced in recent months, USAID’s Tourism For All project created three award categories:  Tourism Champions, Solidarity Champions, and Climate Champions.  The USAID project selected winners from nominations gathered through a public online poll, open to Timorese people and people overseas who have visited the country.  An internal panel at USAID’s Tourism For All activity selected the winners, based on the comments given in the online nomination questionnaires and the number of nominations received by each candidate.

Photo c. USAID’s Tourism For All Project/ Arlindo Soares

Netizens nominated the Tourism Champions for their efforts to support sustainable tourism in Timor-Leste and promote and protect the country’s tourism attractions and culture.  Judges selected eight winners in this category:

• Alito Rosa and Konservasaun Flora no Fauna: This volunteer group raises awareness of environmental protection at the Mangrove Centre in Hera, which has become one of Timor-Leste’s newest tourist attractions.
• Jeremias “Adino” Boavida, Head Waiter at the Caz Bar Restaurant: Adino has provided exemplary customer service to guests over his ten-year career. He was also recognized for his enthusiasm in offering tourism information and travel advice to visitors.
• Robert Crean and the Compass Diving Team: The award recognizes Robert Crean’s 13-year commitment to marine tourism in Timor-Leste, working closely with local communities in Atauro.  Compass Diving has been active in marine biodiversity research and raising environmental awareness through field courses for Timorese students.
• Luis “Melky” Bere-Hunu and Dreamers Dive Academy: As the first Timorese to become a qualified dive instructor, Melky has been able to share his passion with young people keen to explore the underwater world in their own country.
• Danny Lee and Ocean View: Danny Lee invested in a restaurant and guest house in 2002 and has since expanded the business to include a dive centre, whale-watching operation, and kite surfing school.  Over the years he has engaged the local beachside community in activities to protect the marine environment.
• Manukoko Rek, Atauro: Operated by a local women’s group, this guesthouse and restaurant invests 100 percent of its profits in the community, working with a network of small handicrafts businesses, and generating income to support families in one of the poorest parts of the island.
• Carlos Soares, Lauhata Resort Liquica: One of the first tourism entrepreneurs to invest in Liquica, Carlos Soares has trained and employed local youth to offer excellent service in his guesthouse and restaurant. Guests are encouraged to plant trees in the resort gardens.
• Francisco Alexandre Pereira, Bollore International: As air operations officer at Dili’s President Nicolau Lobato Airport, “Alex” Pereira has been recognized by grateful travelers for his support and assistance to passengers in difficulty and those with special needs.

The Solidarity Champions award recognizes tourism businesses that stepped up to help others who were affected by the dual tragedies of the coronavirus pandemic and the floods from Cyclone Seroja in April.  More than 40 people died in the floods, thousands of families displaced to evacuation centres and the Government of Timor-Leste declared a state of calamity.  Although the industry was already reeling from the impact of COVID-19, some tourism businesses mobilized to help the community.  Judges selected two winners:

• Pro Ema Training Restaurant: Through its “Together We Are Stronger” campaign, Pro Ema raised more than $30,000 in relief funds, cooked, and distributed more than 30,000 meals to flood victims in evacuation camps, along with more than 20,000 kilograms of raw rice and 850 basic needs packages, including such items as groceries, bedding, kitchen utensils and face masks.
• Agora Food Studio: During the COVID-19 crisis, many small Timorese-owned businesses were dependent on social media marketing to offer takeaway and delivery services.  With support from USAID, Agora Food Studio produced a series of instructional videos to improve e-marketing skills and to help restaurants apply health protocols when they reopened.

The floods also served as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change.  Judges recognized three Climate Champions for their consistent efforts to encourage businesses and individuals to play their part in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.  Judges selected three winners:

• Potenzo Lopes: A wildlife conservationist and nature photographer, Potenzo Lopes conducts birdwatching tours and runs education and outreach programs about wildlife and nature conservation for students. He co-founded the Tasi Mos movement that organizes community beach clean-up activities.
• Fernando Madeira, DaTerra Agroecological Farm, Baucau: At this farm and guesthouse founded on the principles of ecotourism, visiting school groups learn about how to mitigate climate change by reducing the carbon footprint, using local products, planting trees, and conserving water and energy.
• Eugenio “Ego” Lemos, PERMATIL: PERMATIL is a group working for sustainable farming through water and land conservation. Since 2008, more than 5,000 young people have participated in PermaYouth camps to learn about environmental issues and gain skills that can be taken back and shared with their communities.

“The Tourism Champions Awards will help boost morale and confidence in the tourism industry,” said Acting USAID Mission Director Carey.  “All Tourism Youth Ambassadors finalists are up-and-coming leaders who give hope for the future of tourism in Timor-Leste.”

Good news is the thing we need most at the moment. I know all of the members of my team will be so happy,” said Pro Ema Director Simone Barbosa de Assis.

Winners of this year’s Tourism Youth Ambassadors award are Maria Pereira and Ronaldo Ima Dias do Rego, both students at UNTL. Judges selected these university tourism students at a recent public speaking competition on the World Tourism Day theme of “Tourism For Inclusive Growth.”  Their public speaking skills will be put to good use as Tourism Youth Ambassadors in a yearlong internship with USAID’s Tourism For All project. They will raise awareness of the need for sustainable, inclusive tourism development, spreading the word to young people and communities around the country.

In keeping with the World Tourism Day theme, competition organizers presented the Tourism Champions and Youth Ambassadors with glass trophies engraved by artisans from Centru Sover, a social enterprise for disabled people, using specialized equipment supplied to the group through a grant from USAID’s Tourism For All Project.

# # #

For more information contact USAID/Timor-Leste at [email protected] and [email protected]

Staff at the national Tourism Information Centre (TIC) in Dili have been perfecting their skills and updating their database to help domestic and international travellers plan their journeys and leisure activities in Timor-Leste.  The centre – the first of its kind in Timor-Leste – was inaugurated on March 12^th 2018 and it is situated on the beach road in Lecidere at the heart of the city.

The TIC keeps stock of a wide range of brochures and maps, covering tours, accommodation, travel agencies, restaurants and accommodation, as well as information about tourism attractions, cultural highlights and beauty spots throughout the country.

Staff can also provide accurate and reliable information about special events and Timor-Leste’s historical and geographical background, to help visitors understand and enjoy their journeys outside Dili, whilst assisting expatriate residents and travellers from the Municipalities find their way around the city.  Information is also available about Timor-Leste’s renowned scuba diving and the dive centres operating in Dili, as well as boat timetables for travel to Atauro and Oe-cusse.

Staff can also help visitors to find a range of goods and services that they might need during their trip, such as car and motorbike rentals, money changers, laundry companies, and local markets, as well as providing information about internet access and telecommunications companies. They can direct visitors to local markets, handicrafts shops and cafes where they can experience the flavour of freshly-brewed Timorese coffee and buy some to take home. The friendly and helpful staff speak Portuguese and English. The Lecidere Tourism Information Centre is open from Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1730 (closed for lunch between 1200 and 1400). The government also has plans to open more centres at Nicolau Lobato Airport, the land border crossing point at Batugade and in Baucau.

 

Tourism information is also available on line at the national website: www.timorleste.tl.

Facebook : Tourist Information Center

Landline : +670 331 1563

Location : https://www.google.com/maps/dir//-8.5485637,125.5862433/@-8.5485574,125.5162016,12z

It’s time to #ExploreTheUndiscovered!

Australian travel blogger Catherine Hopgood has been exploring Timor-Leste and sharing her travel experiences through her blog, Timor Tourist 2021. In her recent post from Aileu, she gives a complete guide to what to do, where to stay and farm-to-table culinary feasts to be enjoyed along the way. Click on the link to read more about her blog in Aileu https://timortourist2021.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/chilling-out-in-the-fohoof-aileu/