The Timor-Leste Strategic Development Plan 2011-2030 is the country’s overarching twenty-year vision document, setting out a comprehensive roadmap for transforming the young nation from a low-income, petroleum-dependent economy into an upper-middle-income country by 2030. Launched by then-Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, the plan covers three interconnected pillars: social capital, infrastructure development, and economic development. Tourism is identified as one of the key non-oil sectors with the potential to drive diversification and job creation.
The tourism chapter of the plan envisions Timor-Leste as a niche eco-tourism and cultural tourism destination, leveraging the country’s pristine natural environments, rich marine biodiversity, diverse cultural traditions, and unique historical heritage. Specific targets include developing tourism infrastructure in priority zones, establishing a national tourism marketing strategy, improving air access through upgrades to Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport, and building the capacity of the local workforce to meet hospitality industry standards.
This document remains the foundational reference for all subsequent sector strategies, including the National Strategic Plan for Tourism 2023-2030. Understanding it is essential for anyone engaged in tourism development in Timor-Leste, as government ministries, development partners, and international organizations continue to align their programs with its goals.