This Tetum-language press release from 8 October 2021 reports a ceremony at the US Ambassador’s residence in Dili, where USAID’s Tourism For All project (Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu) marked World Tourism Day 2021. The theme was “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. This is our English summary.
The second edition of the Tourism Champions awards recognised people and organisations that kept working for tourism through COVID-19 and the April 2021 floods caused by Cyclone Seroja. Nominations came from the public; a panel chose the winners. Guests included US Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley, USAID Mission Director Harold Carey, government officials and leaders of the Religious Tourism Association (ATRTL). Sponsors included Heineken Timor-Leste, East Timor Trading, the Hotel Owners Association of Timor-Leste (HOTL) and Guide Post Magazine.
Tourism Champions
- Alito Rosa and Konservasaun Flora no Fauna, volunteers raising environmental awareness at the Ai-Parapa centre in Hera
- Jeremias “Adino” Boavida, head waiter at Caz Bar, for over a decade of customer service
- Robert Crean and the Compass Diving team, for 13 years in marine tourism, biodiversity research and field courses for Timorese students
- Luis “Melky” Bere-Hunu and Dreamers Dive Academy, the first Timorese qualified dive instructor
- Danny Lee and Ocean View, who grew a restaurant and guesthouse into a dive centre, whale-watching operation and kitesurfing school
- Manukoko Rek, Ataúro, a women-run guesthouse and restaurant that reinvests its profits in the community
- Carlos Soares, Lauhata Resort, Liquiçá, for training and employing local young people
- Francisco Alexandre “Alex” Pereira, Bolloré, for helping passengers at Dili airport
Solidarity Champions
- Pro Ema Training Restaurant, whose “Hamutuk Ita Forsa” campaign raised about US$30,000 and distributed more than 30,000 meals, 20,000 kg of rice and 850 relief packs to flood victims
- Agora Food Studio, which produced training videos on online marketing and health protocols for restaurants
Climate Champions
- Potenzo Lopes, conservationist and wildlife photographer who runs birdwatching tours and education programmes
- Fernando Madeira, DaTerra Agroecological Farm, Baucau, an eco-farm and guesthouse that teaches school groups about climate action
- Eugenio “Ego” Lemos, PERMATIL, whose PermaYouth camps have trained more than 5,000 young people since 2008
Young Tourism Ambassadors
UNTL students Maria Pereira and Ronaldo Ima Dias do Rego won the public-speaking competition and a year-long internship with the project. The trophies were glass pieces made by artists at Centru Sover, a social enterprise for people with disabilities.