TOURISM AND EMERGING ISLAND ECONOMIES An understanding of stakeholder perspectives in Timor-Leste

This article analyses the potential for tourism development in the young island nation of Timor-Leste, arguing that tourism could provide an important source of economic revenue, employment and cultural exchange. However, tourism can be a 'double-edged sword' and its successes are not always guaranteed. This article identifies that while Timor-Leste's stakeholders wholeheartedly support tourism, they have concerns about its development, preferring a community-based or 'pro-poor' model. Further, tourism decision-making in Timor-Leste is centralised and current government action does not align with tourism planning or stakeholder wishes. To date there has been limited research on community support for tourism in small-island developing economies; this article, therefore, provides a timely addition to the literature.