Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo is calling for foreigninvestment in tourism to boost its contributions to the economyalongside agriculture and oil and gas industries.
In an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent on July23, the PM said developing tourism is vital to helping the countrydiversify its economy and reduce the dependence on oil-related revenue,he said.
As a young nation thatgained independence in 2002, Timor-Leste has poor infrastructure andover 30 percent of its population living in poverty. The country’seconomy depends heavily on oil exports which bring home about sevenbillion USD per year.
Though theisland nation boasts unspoiled natural beauty, local facilities areonly capable of accommodating a few thousand travellers every year, thePM said, conceding that this is one of the country’s biggest challengesto boosting the tourism sector.
He added that the Timor Leste Government hopes foreign investment will help address this problem.
According to the PM, Timor-Leste is seeking investment with the focuson community tourism, eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
It has been working to train human resources in the field and completelegal frameworks and incentive policies to welcome more investors.
In addition, the nation is also focused on developing clean agriculture with coffee remaining as a key product.-VNA
In an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent on July23, the PM said developing tourism is vital to helping the countrydiversify its economy and reduce the dependence on oil-related revenue,he said.
As a young nation thatgained independence in 2002, Timor-Leste has poor infrastructure andover 30 percent of its population living in poverty. The country’seconomy depends heavily on oil exports which bring home about sevenbillion USD per year.
Though theisland nation boasts unspoiled natural beauty, local facilities areonly capable of accommodating a few thousand travellers every year, thePM said, conceding that this is one of the country’s biggest challengesto boosting the tourism sector.
He added that the Timor Leste Government hopes foreign investment will help address this problem.
According to the PM, Timor-Leste is seeking investment with the focuson community tourism, eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
It has been working to train human resources in the field and completelegal frameworks and incentive policies to welcome more investors.
In addition, the nation is also focused on developing clean agriculture with coffee remaining as a key product.-VNA
