DILI, 29 march 2023 (TATOLI) – The Council of Ministers, today, approved two Decree-Laws, presented by the Minister of Tourism, Trade, and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, for the creation of Law on Tourism Activities and Tourism Authority.
The creation of the Law on Tourism Activities aims to drive the economic and social development of the country, and also preserve Timor-Leste’s identity and its natural, cultural, and historical heritage.
The establishment of this decree-law is to organize, promote, encourage, monitor, and supervise tourism activities in order to contribute to the balanced development of the country, create jobs and alleviate poverty, encourage the national private sector to participate in tourism, establish mechanisms for institutional participation and articulation, improve the quality of life of local communities and increase the safety of tourists and consumers.
The Decree-Law also establishes general principles, including harmonization and equality, responsibility, sustainability, transversal, competitiveness, and international collaboration and cooperation.
Meanwhile, the approval of the Decree-Law on the creation of the Tourism Authority aims to promote, capacitate, coordinate, monitor, and develop the private and public sectors, contributing to the promotion and strengthening of tourism and the economic development of the country.
“The Tourism Authority will be responsible for matters related to regulation, promotion and marketing, business environment enhancement, and tourism sustainability,” The Acting Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, and the current Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs, Joaquim Amaral said in a press conference, held at the Government Palace, today.
He said that the Authority will have regulatory competencies in tourism matters developed by public and private entities: “The Tourism Authority will be supervised by the Government member responsible for the area of tourism and will have the mission to promote, capacitate, coordinate, monitor and develop the private and public sector, contributing to the promotion and strengthening of tourism and the economic development of the country.”
The Authority will also be responsible for qualifying and developing tourism infrastructures, developing the qualification and training of human resources, supporting investment in the tourism sector, promoting the creation of knowledge about the sector, and coordinating the internal and external promotion of Timor-Leste as a tourism destination.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
