In partnership with local businesses, USAID’s Tourism For All Project launched a campaign to promote domestic tourism under the banner “Ha’u-nia Timor-Leste” (My Timor-Leste). The campaign, which ran until December 31st, 2020, aimed to inspire the public to support local businesses by becoming tourists in their own country.
Everyone was encouraged to enjoy the adventures and attractions on offer — eating at a favourite restaurant, taking a road trip, going diving, or enjoying a cup of local coffee made by an expert barista. People could show their support by taking photos of their experiences, beauty spots, cultural and historical places, and wildlife, using the hashtag #HauNiaTimorLeste when sharing them on social media.
By the end of the year, the campaign aimed to count 1,318,445 #HauNiaTimorLeste tags on social media — one for every person in the country.
The Domestic Tourism Expo
The Tourism For All Project hosted a series of events to celebrate World Tourism Day. A Domestic Tourism Expo was held at Timor Plaza Centre Court from September 22–26, featuring:
- Informative presentations from tourism associations and industry professionals
- Films, special promotions, and entertainment
- Give-aways and quizzes
- Exhibits on Timor-Leste’s wildlife, underwater world, and activities across all 13 municipalities
The Tourism Fair
The Ha’u-nia Timor-Leste Tourism Fair took place on September 27 (World Tourism Day) in the Timor Plaza car park, from 15:00 to 22:00. Tourism businesses offered special campaign packages, while the public enjoyed cultural performances, a prize draw, and give-aways.
Tourism Champions Awards
USAID’s Tourism For All Project organised the Turizmu Ba Ema Hotu Tourism Champions awards to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism in Timor-Leste. Members of the public could nominate any individual, company, or organisation that had:
- Gone the extra mile to welcome visitors
- Made an exceptional effort to support tourism development
- Helped create innovative experiences for tourists
About the Campaign
The Ha’u-nia Timor-Leste campaign was launched to support tourism businesses struggling during the COVID-19 crisis. Timor-Leste’s broader destination marketing campaign continues under the brand “Explore The Undiscovered”. Visit www.timorleste.tl to find out more about tourism attractions in Timor-Leste.