Oé-Cusse’s Tourism Profile Will be Given a Major Boost on November 24, 2021

New Brochures, Destination Website & Major Tourism Attraction to be Unveiled

November 22, 2021

Oe-Cusse Tourism Website

Oé-Cusse, Timor-Leste (November 21, 2021): On Wednesday November 24th, 2021, the Palaban Customs compound in Pante Macassar will be the site of the official launching of three (3) major tourism initiatives for Oé-Cusse. A new tourism destination website, three (3) new brochures and a street art project will all be unveiled by the President of the RAEOA-ZEESM-TL H.E. Arsenio Paixão Bano. This will be done in the presence of other senior government and UNDP officials, private sector tourism stakeholders, and other beneficiaries of various tourism capacity building initiatives undertaken in Oé-Cusse as part of the UNDP and SAR-ZEESM Tourism Project.

New www.visitoecusse.Tl Website Completed

After months of design work a new tourism promotional website for Oé-Cusse www.visitoecusse.tl has been completed. This new website promotes all the major tourism attractions, products and services offered in Oé-Cusse in a very visually attractive format and design.

The main feature on the home page is a short promotional video that highlights and showcases the natural beauty and main attractions of Oé-Cusse. The page also provides easy links to the four main sections of the website that provides general information about Oé-Cusse, what things to see and do, information for trip planning, and news and events. From every page on the website there are links to the new Visit Oé-Cusse Facebook, Instagram and YouTube social media accounts that were also recently created to also promote tourism to the enclave.

The site is currently available in English, Portuguese, and Indonesian Bahasa and Tetum will be added soon. This very visually attractive website was created by a team of local web designers based in Oé-Cusse and Dili under the guidance of the of the tourism team at the UNDP. The developers also created a Content Management System (CMS) Manual for the website and training on the CMS was facilitated for government tourism staff who will be responsible for managing the website content.

 Redesigned and Updated Tourism Brochures and Map

The three (3) main tourism marketing collateral pieces for Oé-Cusse have been revamped and redesigned for printing and will also be launched on November 24. These are the Things to See and Do brochure, the Hiking and Walking Guide and the Map of Oé-Cusse

The Things to See and Do brochure is 36-page booklet with detailed information and attractive photos covering the history of Oé-Cusse, points of interest, activities, trip planning information, and a services directory. In the Hiking and Walking Guide, detailed information the six (6) main trekking trails (Fonte Sagrada, Kutete, Pa’is-Bisae Sunaf, Maombelon, Fatu-Suba and Via Sacra) are provided. The Guide also has details on hiking tips, general information about Oé-Cusse, a trails map and contact information. The updated map provides an overall representation of the geography of Oé-Cusse, key points of interest, a detailed map of Pante Macassar and a services directory.

All three (3) of these attractive, highly visual, and reader-friendly marketing collateral pieces have been produced in English and Tetum. They will provide valuable and practical information to visitors and promote Oé-Cusse to prospective travelers and promote the four main pillars of the region’s tourism sector: Coastal tourism, Nature tourism, Cultural tourism, and Business tourism.

Major Street Art Installation Facilitated by Arte Moris

Soon after launching the new website and brochures in the Palaban Customs Hall (Alfandega), the team of dignitaries and the audience will move to the main exterior wall at Alfandega where a major street art installation will be formally inaugurated. The highly attractive and masterful artwork showcases in a tangible way on eighteen (18) wall panels the long and colorful culture and history of Oé-Cusse, which will become an important attraction for tourists and locals in Pante Macassar. In addition, the area in front of the artwork has been given a major facelift with flower beds, plants, benches, and fencing being installed.

This project was executed by a team of seven (7) artists from Arte Moris who were in Oé-Cusse from mid-October to mid-November and were assisted by ten (10) young local persons that they trained. Prior to the artwork installation, a socialization was held on October 19th with the community, the local authorities, and other stakeholders. The main purpose of the activity was to discuss the nature and type of artwork and landscaping to be installed, and how the local community can monetize and benefit from Oé-Cusse’s newest tourist attraction. The monitoring and maintenance of the project after completion was also on the socialization agenda, to ensure that the art painted remains of a high quality.

Following the socialization, Arte Moris also conducted a three (3) day art training programme from October 20-22 for 25 young aspiring artists from Oé-Cusse at the Alfandega Hall in Pante Macassar. Ten (10) of these young persons also became volunteer painters and supported the team from Arte Moris in executing the street art installation and were prepared for managing upkeep of the area