<aside> <img src="/icons/apple_blue.svg" alt="/icons/apple_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Describe your product TimorGetaway is Timor-Leste’s first digital eco-tourism platform, transforming how travelers find and book sustainable, authentic, and culturally immersive experiences. The platform offers eco-friendly accommodations, curated adventure tours, and community-based activities that promote environmental conservation while supporting local economic empowerment. Through a seamless, user-friendly website, travellers can book home stays, eco-lodges, camping spots, and eco-tours, contributing directly to the preservation of Timor-Leste’s unique culture, biodiversity, and marine ecosystems. The platform fosters sustainable tourism by emphasizing low-impact travel, marine life protection, and eco-conscious practices. At its heart, TimorGetaway empowers local communities especially women-led and small businesses by connecting them to a global audience. It provides training and tools to help them thrive, fostering economic growth, promoting gender equality, and ensuring that tourism revenues contribute to the long-term sustainability of both the local economy and the natural environment.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/bullseye_green.svg" alt="/icons/bullseye_green.svg" width="40px" /> What you want to achieve by March 2025
By 2025, TimorGetaway will be the premier eco-tourism platform in Timor-Leste, expanding its offerings nationwide while becoming a critical driver of economic growth and sustainability. Our key goals include:
<aside> <img src="/icons/bell-notification_pink.svg" alt="/icons/bell-notification_pink.svg" width="40px" /> Describe the kinds of help you need the most (funding, expertise, technology, access, etc).
To successfully scale and expand TimorGetaway, we are seeking support in the following key areas:
1. Funding: To accelerate our expansion across Timor-Leste, we need financial backing to enhance our platform, onboard more local accommodations and tour operators, and launch targeted marketing campaigns. Funding will also be used to provide training programs for local hosts, especially women-owned businesses.
2. Expertise: We are looking for partners with expertise in sustainable tourism, digital platform management, and eco-friendly practices to help us refine our services and build a world-class platform. Expertise in scaling businesses and entering new markets would be invaluable as we aim to grow beyond the pilot phase.
3. Technology: Support in upgrading our digital infrastructure, including the integration of more advanced features like real-time booking systems, AI-driven personalization, and secure multi-option payment systems, is crucial. Collaboration with tech companies and developers will help us stay innovative and user-centric.
4. Access to Networks: We are seeking access to international tourism boards, eco-conscious travel agencies, and global networks of sustainable tourism stakeholders. These connections will help us expand our reach and attract eco-conscious travellers from around the world.
5. Partnerships: We welcome partnerships with development agencies, conservation groups, financial institutions, and global hospitality leaders who share our vision of promoting eco-tourism while empowering local communities. These partnerships will help amplify our impact and secure long-term sustainability.
With the right support in these areas, TimorGetaway will not only thrive but also set a new standard for eco-tourism in Timor-Leste and the ASEAN region.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/brain_blue.svg" alt="/icons/brain_blue.svg" width="40px" /> Describe your target customers
Local hosts and local communities: TimorGetaway empowers local hosts, accommodation providers, eco-tour operators, and local communities by helping them access a global market and thrive in the growing eco-tourism industry. A core focus of the platform is supporting women-owned and women-led businesses, offering them training, visibility, and financial opportunities to scale their operations. By fostering the growth of women-run home stays, eco-lodges, and artisanal enterprises, TimorGetaway creates a profound social impact, driving economic empowerment and community development across Timor-Leste. Local hosts will benefit from increased visibility, which allows them to reach eco-conscious travellers worldwide. Training programs in sustainable tourism, hospitality, financial literacy, and digital platform usage will be provided, ensuring high service quality and customer satisfaction. For local communities, TimorGetaway will generate new economic opportunities, especially for women and marginalized groups, helping to promote inclusive growth and stronger local economies.
Tourists: TimorGetaway’s primary customers are eco-conscious travellers, both international and domestic, who seek authentic, sustainable, and meaningful travel experiences. This includes adventure tourists, nature enthusiasts, and cultural travelers who prioritize low-impact tourism that supports environmental conservation and the protection of marine life. These travelers are driven by a desire to engage with nature and local cultures responsibly. They value eco-friendly accommodations, prefer experiences that immerse them in local traditions such as weaving Tais or engaging in culinary tours, and actively seek out tours that protect and preserve Timor-Leste’s unique biodiversity. These travelers will enjoy seamless booking for eco-lodges, homestays, and curated eco-tours while contributing positively to the environment and local economy through the TimorGetaway project.
Environment: TimorGetaway is committed to promoting sustainable tourism by highlighting eco-friendly accommodations and tours that focus on renewable energy, waste reduction, and respect for natural ecosystems. The platform features eco-conscious activities like snorkeling, whale watching, turtle hatching, and marine conservation tours, all of which contribute to the long-term preservation of Timor-Leste’s biodiversity. These sustainable practices will help mitigate the environmental impact of tourism, ensuring that tourism in Timor-Leste not only benefits the economy but also safeguards the country’s rich natural heritage. This dual approach ensures that both visitors and local stakeholders contribute to marine life protection and conservation efforts, promoting a sustainable future for the country’s tourism industry.
Through these combined efforts, TimorGetaway drives economic empowerment, social development, and environmental conservation in Timor-Leste. The platform supports local hosts with training and increased visibility, local communities with economic opportunities and inclusivity, tourists with enriching experiences, and the environment with protection and sustainable practices. This holistic approach positions TimorGetaway as a key player in shaping a sustainable and inclusive tourism sector for the country.
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<aside> <img src="/icons/emoji-disappointed_pink.svg" alt="/icons/emoji-disappointed_pink.svg" width="40px" /> What pain points are you trying to solve?
