Sustainable Tourism and Alternative Livelihood Development on Ataúro Island, Timor-Leste, through Pro-Poor, Community-Based Ecotourism is a master’s by research thesis by José Filipe Dias Quintas, submitted to Charles Darwin University in March 2016.
Background
Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030 names community-based ecotourism (CBET) and pro-poor tourism as its main tourism models. Ataúro Island has been the country’s best-known example of both for about two decades.
What the study did
- Surveyed 150 households in three Ataúro villages: Vila Maumeta, Beloi and Bikeli
- Collected extra data from 29 owners or managers of community tourism businesses
- Compared two eco-lodges: Tua Ko’in Eco-Village (started by the community) and Adara (started from outside)
- Mapped the island’s ecotourism assets and infrastructure with residents
Findings
- 94–98% of respondents said community ecotourism was important to the local economy, and 88–96% preferred more of it over mass tourism.
- It had created jobs, raised the value of local labour and materials, opened markets for local products and helped local transport operators.
- It supported traditional Ataúro handicrafts, though some negative social and cultural effects were starting to appear.
- Environmental impacts of the eco-lodges were low.
- The main barriers were infrastructure, skills, land tenure and finance.
Further reading
- A Sustainable Tourism Mode for Timor-Leste (2011 presentation)
- Timor-Leste National Tourism Policies and Strategies (presentation)