During the last quarter several key tourism initiatives were undertaken in Oé-Cusse as part of the UNDP and SAR-ZEESM Tourism Project. These activities are designed to build capacity within the community, address the skills and knowledge gap in tourism, and improve the quality of hospitality services and attractions in Oé-Cusse. They were executed in collaboration with the Community Tourism Unit under the Office of the President Authority’s Cabinet, in keeping with the recommendations of the Regional Strategic Plan (2019–2023) and the National Tourism Policy for Oé-Cusse.
Hospitality & Jewellery Making Training Benefits 108 Participants
One hundred and eight (108) participants recently benefitted from a Hospitality and Jewellery Making training programme held from August 9–11, 2021. Both courses lasted three (3) days and took place at the ETV Palaban High School in Pante-Macassar, facilitated by the East Timor Development Agency (ETDA).
The hospitality training was attended by fifty-nine (59) participants. Topics covered in the first two days included:
- Customer care and service
- Personal hygiene
- Workplace health and safety
- Kitchen cleaning and food preparation
The third day focused on practical cooking skills with Chef Rey from ETDA. Participants used common local produce to prepare items such as tamarind juice with ginger, pumpkin soup, rice croquettes, and biscuit cake.
For the jewellery training, forty-nine (49) participants practised techniques for making earrings, necklaces, and bracelets using wooden or plastic beads. They also learnt costing and product pricing to ensure profitable results. The expectation is that participants can now create products from local materials as an additional source of income. For both courses, most participants were from the youth segment and 60% were female.
13 Young Persons from Oé-Cusse Trained as Tour Guides
From September 29th to October 1st, thirteen (13) young persons participated in a tour guide training programme at the SRESS Conference Room in Pante Macassar, Oé-Cusse. This training was part of the tourism and hospitality capacity building programme under the SAR-ZEESM Tourism Project, following a similar training held in 2019 for 25 persons.
The three-day programme was facilitated by the East Timor Development Agency (ETDA). The first two days covered:
- Getting to know the tourism product
- The importance of a good personality
- Collecting tourism information
- Preparing, coordinating, and leading an organised tour
On the third day, participants designed tour packages and completed a practical field exercise, applying their newly learnt skills to conduct practice tours. The training concluded with a certificate ceremony.
New Website www.visitoecusse.tl Launched to Promote Tourism in Oé-Cusse
After months of design work, a new tourism promotional website for Oé-Cusse — www.visitoecusse.tl — was completed and launched in November. The site promotes all major tourism attractions, products, and services in Oé-Cusse in a visually attractive format.
The home page features a short promotional video highlighting the natural beauty and main attractions of Oé-Cusse, along with easy links to the four main sections:
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| About Oé-Cusse | General information about the enclave |
| See & Do | Things to see and do |
| Trip Planning | Practical visitor information |
| News & Events | Latest updates and events |
From every page, visitors can access the new Visit Oé-Cusse accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The site is currently available in English, Portuguese, and Indonesian Bahasa, with Tetum to be added soon. It was created by a team of local web designers based in Oé-Cusse and Dili.
Redesigned Tourism Brochures
Three main tourism marketing collateral pieces for Oé-Cusse have been revamped and redesigned for print:
| Collateral | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to See and Do | 36-page booklet covering history, points of interest, activities, trip planning, and a services directory |
| Hiking and Walking Guide | Detailed information on six main trekking trails with tips, a trails map, and contact information |
| Map of Oé-Cusse | Geography overview, key points of interest, a detailed map of Pante Macassar, and a services directory |
The six trekking trails featured in the Hiking and Walking Guide are:
- Fonte Sagrada
- Kutete
- Pa’is-Bisae Sunaf
- Maombelon
- Fatu-Suba
- Via Sacra
All three pieces have been produced in English and Tetum. They promote the four main pillars of Oé-Cusse’s tourism sector: Coastal tourism, Nature tourism, Cultural tourism, and Business tourism.
Arte Moris Street Art Project
A team of seven (7) artists from Arte Moris spent from mid-October to mid-November in Oé-Cusse, facilitating a major street art installation along the wall at Alfandega in the capital Pante Macassar. The artwork showcases the long and colourful culture and history of Oé-Cusse, making it an important new attraction for tourists and locals alike. The surrounding area was also given a facelift with flower beds, plants, benches, and fencing installed.
Prior to the installation, a community socialisation was held on October 19th with local authorities and stakeholders to discuss:
- The nature and type of artwork and landscaping to be installed
- How the local community can monetise and benefit from the new attraction
- Monitoring and maintenance of the project after completion
Following the socialisation, Arte Moris conducted a three (3) day art training programme from October 20–22 for 25 young aspiring artists from Oé-Cusse at the Alfandega Hall in Pante Macassar. Ten (10) of these young persons also became volunteer painters, supporting the Arte Moris team in executing the installation and preparing for ongoing upkeep of the area.
All photos credit to UNDP