DILI, 04 December 2025 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste has received an invitation to participate in TRAVEX, the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), which will take place in Cebu, Philippines, from January 28 to 30, 2026.
The Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment (MTA), António da Silva, explained that this exhibition is one of two types of expos organized periodically every five years, such as Expo Osaka, alongside other registered expos where countries are selected to participate.
According to da Silva, Timor-Leste is eager to gain deeper knowledge of expos that are more specific to tourism, as these platforms can facilitate connections between the national private sector and international private sector actors through Business-to-Business (B2B) exchanges. As part of this plan, Timor-Leste will bring private sector representatives to participate in TRAVEX during the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Cebu.
TRAVEX, short for Travel Exchange, is the annual tourism trade fair held as part of the ASEAN Tourism Forum.
This event serves as a B2B platform where sellers from ASEAN countries meet international buyers to promote tourism products and services and establish new business partnerships. TRAVEX is recognized as the largest commercial tourism fair in the region, showcasing destinations and services across ASEAN.
Da Silva highlighted that the B2B platform connects ASEAN sellers with international buyers, with the goal of exploring diverse tourism products and services across the region. TRAVEX 2026 will be a central component of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026.
He further noted that the National Parliament has already approved the 2026 General State Budget (GSB), allocating $9 million to the MTA, with $200,000 earmarked for activities such as expos, marketing, and related initiatives.
The $200,000 allocation will cover components including digital marketing, expo participation, website improvements, and inviting international journalists to cover Timor-Leste’s tourism sites.
In addition, the ministry will explore other expos that can support the national private sector, such as the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Expo, of which Timor-Leste is a member. This will help introduce Timorese private sector actors to international networks.
“There are many expos we could join, such as specialized marketing events like the Asia Dive Expo or cruise expos. However, given the large number of international events, we will carefully select the most effective ones to participate in,” he said.
The ministry will continue preparations to ensure the private sector is ready to take part in these activities.
Journalist: Arminda Fonseca
Editor: Maria Auxiliadora
Translation: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
