East Timor Prime Minister highlights the importance of tourism
His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos Horta, Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste this week in an exclusive interview with TravelMole expressed his Government’s commitment to tourism, but added that it will take time.
[Pictured left – Prime Minister Dr Ramos Horta and Sarina Bratton operator of Orion Adventure Cruises, the first cruise vessel to visit in Dili]
He said that agriculture, oil and the economic, cultural and social well being of the people of Timor Leste had to be on the top of the agenda, but tourism will happen and that is demonstrated by the setting up of a tourism office, the participation of Timor Lest in WTTO, numerous workshops around the world and fact finding activities.
“It will take time and we already have companies from the Middle East and elsewhere developing hotels and resorts, but we do not want to rush into anything as we have fabulous landscape and history and excellent beaches, but we do not want to spoil them.”
He added, “Eco tourism will be also very important for us in the future”.
Dr Horta was in Australia briefly this week.
Exclusive report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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