Dili, August 13^th, 2020: His Excellency, the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, in a meeting, this Wednesday, at the Government Palace, instructed the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva to develop the Maubara Lagoon, in the Municipality of Liquiçá, which, during the Indonesian occupation period was once a local tourist spot, but, after the independence, has been abandoned. For this reason, the Executive Head wants this place to be reclassified as a tourist area, combining traditional, historical, cultural and ecological tourism.

For the surrounding area of Maubara Lagoon, the Prime Minister also suggested to build replicas of sacred houses representing the 12 municipalities and the RAEOA, as examples of cultural identity, to attract tourists to this place. In addition, the Head of Government also proposed that management of crocodiles in this lagoon to be carried out, since, currently, there are many wild crocodiles in the sea and in the streams, which often bite and kill people, and therefore they are a threat to tourist attractions. For this reason, crocodiles must be collected, to be placed in the lagoon and managed by professionals, in order  to attract visitors.

Besides the Maubara Lagoon, the former President of the Republic also gave guidelines for the development of Eraulo Lagoon, in the Municipality of Ermera. Eraulo Lagoon is a good place for fish farming, and therefore may become an attraction for fishing. When the former President of the Republic visited this place, he could see that it is a very pleasant place, but the Lagoon is abandoned. Then, the Head of Government spoke to the community authorities at that time, and they supported this idea.

The Head of Government hopes that, when these sites are developed and managed properly, they could generate revenue for the State, and could also contribute to improve the economic situation of the surrounding communities.

Prime Minister hopes that in these nearly two years left, the government members will do their best to develop these tourist sites, this being the opportune moment to move forward with the tourism sector as the only source that, in the future, when the oil runs out, may replace the State revenues .

For these two locations, a conceptual plan has already been drawn up, designed by Prime Minister’s technical adviser, pending the MTTI following-up, for the feasibility study, and for the integration into the next budget plan.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, responded positively to the guidelines of the Government Head, and will prioritize this program during his mandate. In addition, rehabilitation plans of tourist sites such as the Cristo-Rei, in Dili, the Marobo hot springs, among others, are part of the MTTI priorities. The Ministry has also developed a conceptual community tourism plan, with the aim of promoting and supporting local community tourism initiatives. END