The potential for cultural tourism: Bobonaro, Ainaro & Lautem Districts is a field-research report by Fundasaun Alola and Timor Adventures, prepared with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The report is undated, but its sources and references point to about 2013. It looks at whether traditional culture and heritage in three rural districts could support tourism that benefits local people, especially women, without damaging the culture it relies on.
Key findings
- Potential: There is real potential for cultural tourism in all three districts. Local leaders are proud of their heritage and keen to share it. Interviewees unanimously believed the economic benefits would outweigh the risks to culture or environment.
- Evidence from elsewhere: International experience is mixed. The best outcomes come from a holistic approach covering social, cultural, environmental and economic impacts, with communities involved in planning and an evaluation framework. Pro-poor and gender-aware models that balance tourism with other livelihoods are the most relevant.
- Constraints: Tourism starts from a low base, so infrastructure, human resources and customer-service standards need building. Ministries of culture, tourism and environment need to plan together.
- Recommendations: Pilot cultural-tourism projects in each district. Set up a community-based cultural-tourism network, possibly starting with a trekking network, to provide training, marketing, microfinance and shared resources. Invite local entrepreneurs and investors on conditions such as reinvesting part of the profit locally, training and hiring local people, and using local products and crafts. Work with NGOs already active in the districts.
- Content: a literature review of Timorese cultural traditions and best-practice models, interviews with ministries and NGOs, field interviews in Tetum, summaries of significant sites and ceremonies, and cultural-tourism potential matrices for each district.
Document details
- Authors: Fundasaun Alola and Timor Adventures
- Supported by: International Labour Organization (ILO)
- Year: Undated (c. 2013)
- Language: English
- Pages: 92
- Download: PDF (timorleste.tl)