A group of tourism influencers, local media and tour operators were the first people to experience a new tour package designed to attract visitors to a small community in the mountainous Ainaro region of the country. The highlight of the tour was a hike to the spectacular Dokomali waterfall, accompanied by a lively welcome ceremony by local cultural elders in traditional Timorese costume in Lebolau village. After the hike, the community prepared a lunch featuring locally-grown produce.
A Journey Through the Mountains
The guided tour also featured a presentation about the country’s struggle for independence during a stop in Aileu Municipality at the statue of Nicolau Lobato, Timor-Leste’s first Prime Minister. The journey took the group through breathtaking scenery of mountain peaks and lush river valleys, pausing at the Fleixa viewpoint for a photo opportunity with Mount Kablaki in the distance.
The tour was well-received by local authorities. In his welcome speech, the village chief noted it was the first time an organised tour had visited his community, calling it a great opportunity for tourists to explore undiscovered attractions and expressing his support for future tourism development in the area.
Pilot Results
USAID’s Tourism For All project created the package for promotion to both international and domestic travellers. The pilot group was asked to evaluate the itinerary so it could be refined before going to market. All participants said they were satisfied with the experience, with 90% rating the trip as “good” or “excellent”. The cultural performance was rated equally with the waterfall visit as the highlight of the trip, and all participants said they would recommend it to a friend.
Timor Post journalist Augusto Sarmento commented: “I’m delighted to be part of this amazing fam trip. As a journalist, I have never had this kind of incredible experience in my life — with this I could learn how to get the right information out to people on what sort of things need to be maintained or improved to attract more tourists to these amazing undiscovered attractions.”
After the pilot excursion, the itinerary was presented to seven Timor-Leste based tour operators, all of whom agreed to promote the package in domestic and international markets. The trip received extensive media coverage, putting the spotlight on a little-known destination and enhancing the financial prospects of the community.