Tourists offered coffee with East Timor's foreign minister

Tourists offered coffee with East Timor's foreign minister

Associated Press Melbourne

Australian travelers have been offered an extra incentive to visit East Timor this year - coffee with the foreign minister.

Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta has asked tourists on the inaugural tour of Australia's Intrepid Travel company to sample "the best coffee in the world" at his "humble traditional home" when they arrive, company spokeswoman Jane Crouch said Thursday.

The tour has been timed to coincide with the first anniversary of East Timor's independence on May 20. The offer highlights two of East Timor's great economic hopes for the future - coffee exports and tourism.

Crouch said Nobel laureate Horta's offer was not surprising.

"The Timorese are very welcoming people," she said. "The minister for foreign affairs is keen to encourage tourism because he realizes the economic benefits."

Crouch said Intrepid felt the timing was right to begin tours to East Timor despite its lack of infrastructure and the Australian government's warning of security threats to travelers.

"If something happened that made the Australian government increase their advisory, we'd not go, and we'd give everybody a full refund," she said.

Intrepid's Web site also warns the first trip may encounter some "teething problems."

"While our intention is to adhere to our planned itinerary, it should be understood that the weather, road conditions, logistical factors and the security situation may alter our route and our activities," the Web site says. "If you are looking for a trip that runs like clockwork we strongly recommend you delay travel to East Timor for a year or two."