The Importance of Safe Tourism
The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the importance of health and safety practices in international travel and tourism. As countries around the world reopen borders, international tourists are prioritising health and safety when deciding their post-pandemic holiday destinations. All stakeholders in the tourism industry of Timor-Leste need to work collaboratively to promote Timor-Leste as a safe destination.
This can only be achieved by continuing to improve the safety management skills of tourism workers at a ground level. In Timor-Leste, many tourist locations are remote and isolated from medical facilities and emergency services, presenting a unique set of risks and challenges. It is essential that tourists receive a world-class standard of service with their safety and security as the number one consideration.
A single major health and safety incident has the potential to cause significant damage to the reputation of Timor-Leste’s entire tourism industry and impact all tourism stakeholders. Upskilling the tourism workforce and businesses to manage tourist safety must be a top priority.
The Project
In July 2021, Timor Unearthed in partnership with USAID’s Tourism For All Project implemented a project titled Rebooting Safe Tourism In Timor-Leste (Hamoris Hikaas Turizmu Ne’ebe Seguro Iha Timor-Leste).
The project aimed to:
- Upskill tourism workers to provide safer tourism experiences
- Raise awareness about safe tourism through a domestic social media campaign
- Train participants in hazard and risk identification
- Develop strategies to manage risks and design safer tourism experiences
- Teach participants how to complete tourism activity risk assessments
Project Team
- Alex Johnson — TU Director
- Anas Madeira — TU Operations Manager & Safe Tourism Trainer
- Shella Smith — Safe Tourism Trainer
- Avanti Morisco — Safe Tourism Trainer
Workshop Participants
The 5-day workshop was designed to share knowledge with 10 tourism workers from organisations across Timor-Leste, including:
- Timor Unearthed
- Agora Food Studio
- Dreamers Dive Academy
- Atauro Island Homestay Association
- Beto Tasi Homestay Association
- Blue Ventures
- Kafe Natar Rohan
- Balibo Trails
- Hatu Bulico Guides
Workshop Activities
Over the course of the 5-day workshop, Safe Tourism trainers facilitated theoretical presentations, group work activities, and practical sessions. Highlights included:
- Field trips to Cristo Rei and Dare Waterfall
- A 1-day training session for 10 tourism university graduates
- Collaboration with Pixel Asia Productions to produce safe tourism videos
- Creation of infographic and video content for an online awareness campaign
“I am happy and grateful to Timor Unearthed for providing this training. It is a new experience for me. This training is essential for tourism because safety and security are essential for the tour guide. If there is a lack of safety and security it can have a devastating impact on tourism, and it is necessary to prioritize safety and security.”
— Manuel Marques, Association Tourism Ramelau Blehitu and Kablake (ASTRABEKA)
Reach and Impact
The workshop group created 4 infographics and 3 videos, promoted on Facebook across Timor-Leste in a social media awareness campaign. The results were remarkable:
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Reactions | 17,600+ |
| Shares | 1,000+ |
| Total reach | 223,000+ people |
| Population reached | Over 17% of Timor-Leste |
It was fantastic to see Timor-Leste’s online community supporting the campaign and sharing the importance of safety in the tourism industry.
A special thank you to all partnering organisations and representatives who participated in the workshop, Facebook users who shared the message online, and USAID’s Tourism For All Project for supporting the grant activity.
Safe Tourism Videos
- Rebooting Safe Tourism Workshop
- 10 Tips to a Safe Hiking Experience
- 10 Tips to a Safe Driving Experience
All photos taken by Anas Madeira, Shella Smith, and Avanti Morisco from Timor Unearthed.