TIMOR-LESTE (4 May 2005) -- THREE years after East Timor became independent from Indonesia, Australians are starting to look at the world's newest nation as a tourist destination. Hotels and restaurants are improving in price and quality, you can fly there direct from Darwin by Airnorth, and the new expedition cruise ship Orion will soon start calling there regularly. What's now officially called the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste hopes to have its application for membership of the World Tourist Organisation approved in November. Meanwhile, it has launched its tourist website listing attractions, activities and accommodation. One travel website says: "Visitors to East Timor will find it's both a recovering war zone and a beautiful country." Says Lonely Planet: "The security situation in East Timor is largely stable and most visits are hassle-free." So what is there to attract the tourist? The official Timor-Leste website says the mountainous half-island nation has diverse and unique attractions -- "From the natural landscapes to the friendly people and historical heritage, our country presents itself as an unexplored and untouched land." The urban feeling of Dili, the capital, "contrasts with the remote and unspoilt beaches located to the east and south of the country," and there are some exceptional dive sites. Dili itself is described as mainly a commercial and administrative centre, with a few touches from 400 years of Portuguese colonial rule, including the ruins of a fort built in 1627. A massive statue of Jesus Christ dominates the headland hilltop at Cape Fatucama. The best-known beaches in Dili are in a sheltered cove known as Areia Branca. Atauru Island, visible from the waterfront, is a popular spot for visitors. Timor-Leste has many pristine coral reefs with several diving companies running scuba safaris to sites in Dili, Atauru Island, Manatutu, Tutuala and Jaku Island in Lospalos. Sightseeing excursions and expeditions to the interior of the country are available, and the website says the country suits backpackers and trekkers. | | Cars and motorcycles are available for rent, and scenic drives include the spectacular coastline to Manatutu, Baukau and Kom in Lospalos. Restaurants featuring various cuisines can be found, from the traditional Timorese dishes to Portuguese, Italian, Western, Chinese, Thai or Japanese. "Now is a good time to visit East Timor," the German news agency Deutsche Press-Agentur (DPA) reported recently. "The armies of peacekeepers and United Nations administrators that arrived after the independence vote in a 1999 referendum [and years of insurgency] are down in number to a few hundred." But tourism is only ever going to be a sideline for East Timor, DPA said, adding that prices could rise when petrodollars begin flowing from oil and gas in the Timor Sea. "It's too expensive for mass-market tourism," the report said. "The return flight from Darwin -- just 90 minutes in the air -- costs $502. Getting there and back from Bali costs $400. DPA also noted that West Timor, the Indonesian-owned other half of Timor, is still awaiting its tourism boom although it was easier to get to and offered cheaper accommodation. Kupang, capital of West Timor, has been a stepping stone on the backpacker trail from Australia through South-East Asia and on to Europe. Timor-Leste's currency is the US dollar. Thirty-day visas costing $39 are stamped into visitors' passport on arrival; a $13 departure tax applies. AUSTRALIANS attracted by the Timor-Leste website should know that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains warnings for visitors to Timor-Leste on a number of fronts. "The risk of terrorist attack in East Timor remains, and could occur at any time . . . and could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners," it says. As well, "assaults and theft directed at foreigners are becoming more frequent in East Timor, particularly if travelling alone or at night. Petty crime is prevalent". SOURCE - AAP |
