Rachel AJ Lee – Fresh off its historic accession as the 11th member of ASEAN, Timor-Leste has set an ambitious goal to welcome 200,000 international visitors annually by 2030.

As the first new nation to join the regional bloc in over 25 years, the country is leveraging its membership to open its doors to a new wave of international travellers, positioning itself as South-east Asia's last frontier for authentic, sustainable adventure, stated Antonio da Silva, director general of tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Government of Timor-Leste.

Da Silva said ASEAN's platform and support would help raise Timor-Leste's profile and position it among recommended destinations in the global market

When asked if Timor-Leste would be ready to host the ASEAN Tourism Forum in 2029, da Silva said that they are "working towards what is expected of us in 2029".

"At this point, the government is trying to catch up (to other ASEAN member states) in terms of facilities, human resources, and ground support. It's not only infrastructure capacity that we need to address, but also the broader agenda of aligning our human resources and regulatory standards with the ASEAN framework," he elaborated.

Timor-Leste is modernising its infrastructure to grow beyond an existing event capacity of 200 to 300 participants. The Dili International Conference Centre, which broke ground last year, is expected to meet ASEAN MICE Standards in time to host the 2029 ASEAN Summit. Accommodation is also expanding, with the recent opening of JL World Hotel and the nation's first five-star property, Palm Springs Hotel Dili.

Simultaneously, a major upgrade of Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport is underway. The project includes a new terminal and a runway extension to 3,000m to accommodate larger aircraft, with a goal of handling up to one million passengers annually by 2028 – a significant jump from the current 250,000. Work will also soon begin on the Dili Waterfront Upgrade, a 2.7km redevelopment of Avenue de Portugal that will transform the coastline into a tourist hub with modernised walkways, retail, and dining.

In addition, new initiatives, such as the Tourism Service Ambassador Training Programme will be launched this year. The government is also reviewing and upgrading tourism curricula to align with the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals and Core Competency Standards.

Da Silva also acknowledged that it is a challenge to promote Timor-Leste as a standalone destination, but joining ASEAN will help it to create multi-country travel packages.

"With all the support and the platform that ASEAN has, (it will) uplift our image to become one of the most recommended destinations within the global market," he concluded.

Source: https://www.ttgasia.com/2026/02/02/timor-leste-eyes-tourism-growth-as-aseans-newest-member