ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 marked the grand international debut of Timor-Leste

Freshly accepted as ASEAN’s 11th member, Timor-Leste used the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu to present itself as the region newest destination and with high hopes of becoming the newest jewel of Southeast Asia tourism. Timor-Leste is indeed the first new country to join ASEAN in 25 years.

The country wants to focus on sustainable eco-tourism with its spectacular landscapes of mountains, lakes and pristine coastline as well as its genuine authentic culture.

Timor-Leste integration in the ASEAN should translate into a major tourism push, aiming to attract 200,000 international visitors a year by 2030. Currently, the country receives around 40,000 international travelers with growth rate projected to reach at least 10% per year for the rest of the decade.

Timor-Leste plans to use its ASEAN membership to raise its international profile and tap into new travel markets. Officials are pitching the young nation as Southeast Asia’s final frontier for travelers seeking authentic, sustainable, and adventure-focused experiences. Major markets targeted are ASEAN member countries, Australia, China, Japan, Portugal and the UK.

“ASEAN gives us a powerful platform,” said Antonio da Silva, Director general of tourism at the Ministry of Tourism and Environment. “It helps us position Timor-Leste among recommended destinations in the global market and opens doors that were much harder to access before.”

Da Silva said the country’s inclusion in ASEAN will also make it easier to promote Timor-Leste as part of multi-country itineraries, addressing one of its longstanding challenges as a standalone destination. By linking into regional travel circuits, the country hopes to benefit from established tourism flows across Southeast Asia- particularly for travelers coming from Bali.

Timor-Leste will rapidly abolish visa requirement for all ASEAN citizens. For now, citizens from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand can enter the country without a visa. ” We are working to align on ASEAN common rules for visa-free travel for its citizens,” promised da Silva.

As for Timor-Leste’s readiness to host the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2029, da Silva said preparations are underway, though significant work remains. “We are working toward what is expected of us in 2029,” he said, noting that the government is racing to close gaps with more developed ASEAN members.

New infrastructure taking shape

Dili, Timor-Lest capital, is embarked into various infrastructures’ development. Two hotels offering international standards opened last year. They are the JL World Hotel and the Palm Springs Hotel Dili, the latter being the first country’s five-star property.

Timor-Leste is expanding also its capacity to host international events, which is currently limited to gatherings of 200 to 300 participants. Construction of the Dili International Conference Centre began last year and is expected to meet ASEAN MICE standards in time for the 2029 ASEAN Summit when Timor-Leste will take the chairmanship of the association.

Work is set to begin on a 2.7-kilometer redevelopment of Dili’s waterfront, transforming Avenue de Portugal into a modern coastal tourism precinct with new walkways, restored historical buildings, shops, and dining venues.

A major upgrade of Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport is also in progress with the support of Japan. Plans include a new passenger terminal and a runway extension to 3,000 meters, allowing larger aircraft to land. The expanded airport is expected to handle up to one million passengers a year by 2028, quadrupling current capacity.

Timor-Leste is currently linked to a limited number of international hubs -Denpasar, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore- as well as to Darwin in Australia. According to da Silva, flights to Dili in West Timor (Indonesia) should start soon while the government is seeking to get flights to Bangkok and Manila.

“However, we also need to align our human resources, regulatory systems, and service standards with the ASEAN framework,” da Silva explained.

To support these investments, the government will launch a Tourism Service Ambassador Training Program this year and is updating tourism education to align with ASEAN-wide professional standards.

“With ASEAN’s support,” da Silva said, “Timor-Leste’s image will be elevated, helping us emerge as one of the region’s most compelling new destinations.”

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