DILI, 05 october 2022 (TATOLI) – The National Director of Conservation of Forest and Ecotourism Development at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF), João Antalmo said Timor-Leste needed to allocate a budget to improve the nature and infrastructure development at the national parks.
He said Timor-Leste has 44 protected areas, of which two have already been transformed into national parks – Nino Konis Santana, in Lautém, and Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, in Ainaro municipality.
“Right now, we still don’t have a national park management plan due to lack of budget,” Antalmo told TATOLI at his office, in Dili, on monday.
“In 2012, we had designed the plan and drawn the specifications for the construction of the gates of the national park. But the government has not yet given priority to this tourist site. Therefore, we should create conditions to attract international tourists,” he said.
The Nino Konis Santana Park covers 170,000 hectares, 40% at sea and 60% on land.
Antalmo added that it is necessary to improve infrastructures at the national parks that include a way to tell Timorese history to visitors.
He said with the improvement of the infrastructure condition at the national parks will attract more tourists which will generate and increase revenue for the country.
Antalmo said MoAF will soon delimit the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao National Park in Ainaro Municipality.
“The ministry is working in partnership with the International Conservation Agency on the demarcation of the national park,” he concluded.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
