Collaborative Management of Protected Areas in Timor-Leste: Stakeholder Participation in Community-Based Tourism in Mount Ramelau

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter offers an overview of the system for governance and management of protected areas (PAs) in Timor-Leste. Authors analyze the nexus of natural environment conservation and development of nature-based tourism from policy and practice perspectives. The development of sustainable tourism in the country has been attributed to the active involvement of international NGOs. Having an in-depth discussion on nature-based tourism in the mountain PA of Mount Ramelau, one of the most popular destinations for tourism and pilgrimage, issues concerning stakeholders’ collaboration are highlighted. During the first six months of 2018, Mount Ramelau experienced an unprecedented upswing in the number of visitations by domestic tourists. This sudden increase in visitation is positive for future tourism prospects; it has, however, also brought a variety of negative impacts, leading to site closure for revision of visitor management. Having analysed roles and expectations from stakeholders’ participation in community-based tourism in the area, the problem has arisen that governmental agencies have made many plans on paper, but the community at the lower level (represented by the Tourism Working Group), who implement these plans do not have much support in terms of finances and authority to carry out the tourism plans. This chapter provides a reference to the importance of engaging inclusive stakeholders in tourism resource management and policy formulation.KeywordsProtected areasPilgrimageNature-based tourismMount RamelauStakeholder collaboration