Freshly accepted as ASEAN’s 11th member, Timor-Leste used the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu to present itself as the region newest destination and with high hopes of becoming the newest jewel of Southeast Asia tourism. Timor-Leste is indeed the first new country to join ASEAN in 25 years.
The country wants to focus on sustainable eco-tourism with its spectacular landscapes of mountains, lakes and pristine coastline as well as its genuine authentic culture.
Timor-Leste integration in the ASEAN should translate into a major tourism push, aiming to attract 200,000 international visitors a year by 2030. Currently, the country receives around 40,000…