Overview
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste is a fledgling nation which became independent only in 2002, and is among the least developed Small Island Developing States. Timor-Leste (also known as East Timor) is located on the eastern part of Timor Island. The western part of the island forms part of Indonesia’s province of Nusa Tenggara Timur. Timor Island is located 640 km northwest of Darwin, Australia, and is part of the Lesser Sunda Archipelago.
While figures from the CIA World Factbook record rapid GDP growth, absolute numbers remain low. A United Nations Human Development report ranked Timor-Leste 120th out of 169 countries in its Human Development Index, based on life expectancy, adult literacy, education enrolment rate, and GDP per capita.
This study examines the prospects for establishing a community-based tourism network in this context, assessing local capacity, cultural assets, and pathways for inclusive tourism development.
Year: 2007