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.