Tourism development in Timor-Leste: aspirations of international standards

Date: 19 March 2014 Time: 12.30 pm

“Timor-Leste is blessed with tropical waters rich in marine life, white sand beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, unique Timorese culture, Portuguese colonial heritage and resistance history” -Timor-Leste’s National Strategic Development Plan (2011-2030) identifies tourism as a pathway to economic development, creating jobs and alleviating poverty. For a post-conflict society with a fledgling tourism industry, the plan to develop a sustainable tourism destination is full of great aspirations and major challenges.

Building the capacity of the tourism and hospitality workforce is a priority area. The new qualifications framework for vocational training is based on international tourism industry standards. How relevant and effective can the training be, when such standards and aspirations are far from the current reality of Timor-Leste?

Presenter: Trisha Dwyer worked as a tourism and hospitality training adviser in Timor-Leste through Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA). She holds a Master of Tourism Management from Victoria University and has extensive experience in tourism operations and training in Latin America, Asia and the Pacific.

For more information, please email tourism@vuw.ac.nz