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."