Executive Summary

Key findings include:

1. Visitor Profile: Asia was the largest visitor source region (52%), followed by Europe (22%) and Oceania (19%). The leading source markets were Australia (18%), China (17%), Indonesia (16%), Portugal (13%), and Malaysia (4%). More than half of respondents (58%) were first-time visitors. The average age group was 45–54 years, while the median annual household income was approximately USD 68,558.
2. Visitor Characteristics and Preferences: The main purposes of visit were holiday or vacation (55%), business or conference (13%), visiting friends and relatives (10%), volunteering (10%), and research or education (7%). Visitors stayed an average of 7.8 nights. Dili was the most visited municipality (96%), followed by Atauro (32%), Baucau (29%), Liquica (23%), Aileu (22%), and Manatuto (21%). Timor-Leste’s most appealing attributes included its people and hospitality, natural beauty and scenery, culture and traditions, history and independence, and diving and snorkelling experiences.
3. Information and Decision-Making: Friends and family, online search engines, workplace information, and previous visits were the leading sources of information about Timor-Leste. The most influential destination attributes included friendly people, heritage and culture, safety, authenticity and the country’s relatively untouched character, local food, natural attractions, and a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
4. Visitor Spending and Impact: Average prepaid expenditure was estimated at USD 926 per visitor per trip. Applying an estimated 50% local retention rate resulted in approximately USD 463 per visitor flowing into the Timor-Leste economy from prepaid expenditure. Average in-country spending was approximately USD 816 per visitor per trip, or USD 105 per visitor per day. Combined, this produced an estimated direct economic contribution of USD 1,279 per visitor per trip, or USD 165 per visitor per day. Based on 48,927 visitor arrivals, the estimated direct tourism expenditure impact was approximately USD 62.5 million from January to December 2025.
5. Visitor Satisfaction: Visitors were generally satisfied with their experience in Timor-Leste. Stronger ratings were recorded for the friendliness of the people, accessibility to the destination, overall value for money, restaurants and food and beverage services, overall service levels, cultural interactions, and land- and marine-based activities. In addition, 84% agreed that Timor-Leste offers a unique and appealing travel experience, while 84% considered the destination to provide good value for money.

The report also highlights areas requiring improvement, including transport and mobility, roads and physical infrastructure, airport and arrival processes, visitor information and signage, internet and digital connectivity, and environmental cleanliness and waste management. Despite these challenges, 91% of respondents expressed a willingness to return to Timor-Leste, while 95% indicated that they would recommend the destination to others.