DILI, 12 october 2023 (TATOLI) – More than 400 tourists from many different countries begin arriving in Timor-Leste to experience the most spectacular whale watching in the country.
Compass Diving said these tourists are comming to Timor-Leste for the 2023 whale-watching season.
“These tourists are from many different countries including the US, Australia, Singapore, Russia, and several other countries,” Compass Diving Manager, Fizzy Moslim told TATOLI, in Dili.
They will stay in the country for the next few months, until december, for whale-watching tours in many different parts of Timor-Leste’s water, including Jaco Island, Ataúro Island, and so on.
Compass Diving currently has 28 staff, including divers, cooks, gardeners, boat drivers, etc.
Martin Walton, a diving instructor from Dive Timor-Lorosae’, said that every weekend they guide up to 10 whale-watching tourists.
A tourist can spend US$250 for a half-day whale-watching program or US$400 for a full-day program.
Both Compass Diving and Diving Timor-Lorosa’e each pay up to US$2,000 in taxes to the Timor-Leste government, every month for whale-watching tours.
During the whale watching session, different species of whales, from massive to smaller, including the blue, beaked, humpback, sperm, killer, short-finned pilot and melon-headed, along with very large pods of dolphins can be viewed from cruise boats and the shoreline in Timor-Leste.
These tourists will spend time during their stay in Timor-Leste watching and observing these whales.
Whale-watching tourism is rapidly growing around the world, estimated to generate over US$2 billion and provide employment for tens of thousands of people.
Timor-Leste authorities believe that whale-watching tourism will make a significant and long-term contribution to employment and the economy in Timor-Leste, adding that the country must have good rules and regulations to control whale-watching tourism every year in the country.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomino Martins
