Tourism development in East Timor needs investors
Tourism development in East Timor needs investors
By I Ketut Sutika
DILI, East Timor (Antara): A harmonious blend of valleys, mountains and the sea offers a spellbinding view along the southern coast of East Timor. The stretch of 250 kilometers from Dili to Manufahi by way of Ailiu over predominantly green hilly areas in the rainy season is breathtakingly beautiful.
The scenery on the Kabalaki mountain range in Manufahi regency is no less enchanting than Bali's Bedugul and Tabanan areas frequented by tourists.
"I enjoyed the overland journey in East Timor nearly as intensely as a trip in France through tourism areas," said Jamsheed Marker, special envoy of the United Nations secretary- general.
Indonesia's UN permanent representative, Makarim Wibisono, made a similar observation on East Timor's tourism potential.
On their recent visit to East Timor to witness the development in Indonesia's youngest province and to obtain firsthand information, the two UN functionaries made use of their trip to take in the natural beauty of the island.
"Like a baby starting to crawl, East Timor's tourist industry needs investment capital to build facilities for the development of its tourism potential," said Joao de Jesus E. Costa Bappista, head of the local tourist agency.
The natural beauty of the Kabalaki mountain range is indeed strongly relied on for the development of tourism. The regional administration has developed the area as a recreational site for the local community. Foreign tourists are still scarce in the area.
The Santa Maria Catholic church, built more than 250 years ago, is another attraction in Manufahi.
The coral reefs on the southern coast of Manufahi are also an alluring tourist spot.
"The problem is that the natural beauty and tourism potential in East Timor is not widely recognized," said regent Nazario de Andrade.
Potential also exists in the hot water springs in Marobo, Bobonaro regency, Maubara lake in Liquisa and a cave with engravings on the walls resembling paintings in Lautem regency, and a lake at the eastern end of East Timor.
Foreigners might think of East Timor, which was integrated into Indonesia in 1976, as an area where trouble with separatists often strikes. This apparently overshadows the beauty of East Timor.
East Timor has at least 126 tourist attractions including nature scenes, traditional villages, coastal areas, a former Portuguese prison, agrotourism in coffee plantations and a Dutch fortress in Maubara.
The variety of cultural attractions handed down from generation to generation by local communities like Tabe-Tabe art also has impressive potential.
Joao Bappista said the reason tourism's potential was not widely recognized was because of poor promotion.
He said the East Timor administration was working on promoting tourism in the hope that the dollars brought in by foreign tourists would also benefit locals.
Over the next five years, priority will be given to recreational sites in Dili regency, where the provincial capital is situated. However, efforts are being made by regencies to improve amenities at tourist sites in each area.
Promotion
In an attempt to lure visitors to its tourist attractions, East Timor has made various promotional endeavors. It invited two experienced writers from Singapore and Australia to write about East Timor's attractions for promotion abroad.
However, the promotion was abandoned after funds became limited. The alternative solution was to spread information through brochures.
East Timorese studying abroad actively promote tourism in Indonesia, especially in East Timor. They carry brochures with them to help the promotional drive.
A number of East Timorese are doing their master's at various universities in Britain, the U.S. and Australia.
"They ask for new brochures from the tourist agency in East Timor when they have been away for a long time," said Joao Bappista, adding that the participation of students was a great help to promoting tourism in East Timor.
The East Timor tourist agency prints 5,000 brochures every year. The brochures are sent to all domestic airports, star-rated hotels in Bali's tourist resorts and Indonesian embassies abroad.
The continued promotional efforts, although limited to brochures, has started to yield results as seen from the number of tourist arrivals.
In 1997, 16,900 tourists visited East Timor, comprising 16,000 domestic and 900 foreign tourists. The number increased from 15,065 in the previous year when 14,200 domestic and 865 foreign tourists visited the province.
Investors
East Timor is very close to Australia, a potential market for Indonesian tourism.
The development of tourism in East Timor has very bright prospects. It now only needs regional support, including an invitation for investors to participate in development by building supporting facilities for tourism, said Makarim Wibisono.
Basyiruddin Yusuf, chairman of the coordinating board for regional capital investment in East Timor, acknowledges that many businesspeople wish to invest in tourism, but none has brought a construction to completion.
Three investors, both domestic and foreign, have obtained approval to construct an international hotel. The first stage of construction involves 100 rooms and 20 cottages.
Two others are interested in developing water tourism, a travel agency and recreation services.
Moreover, an Australian travel agency has shown interest in developing water tourism (diving) around Atauro, an island off East Timor belonging to the Dili regency.
The agency has conducted several exploratory trips and is interested in bringing a great number of visitors on a yacht from Australia.
The underwater scenery around Atauro island is very enchanting and well preserved. "In March 1998, the Australian travel agency will for the first time bring visitors to enjoy the panorama under the sea," said Basyiruddin Yusuf.
The opportunity should benefit local tour organizers in preparing adequate supporting facilities with a view to ensure the flow of Australian tourists in future.
The development of tourism on Atauro island has problems in the unavailability of clean water, although the island has hotel facilities, said Joao Bappista.
Based on present criteria, East Timor has adequate tourist facilities, i.e. three-star hotels and 21 non-rated hotels.
There are 60 restaurants and one travel agency. Tourists need not worry about encountering problems in accommodation for the enjoyment of their vacation in East Timor, said Joao Bappista.