Abstract

Following 400 years of Portuguese colonial administration and 24 years of Indonesian occupation, post-conflict Timor-Leste’s government has been underpinned by its commitment to reconciliation and democracy. Sustainable development approaches have catalysed the country’s transition from civil unrest to state-stability, but much work remains if lasting economic benefits are to be felt by the country’s majority rural population. While rhetoric indicates that Timor-Leste is committed to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and achieving economic diversification, the continued dependence on oil presents an imminent economic and societal challenge. Tourism in Timor-Leste is acknowledged as being one of the nation’s most important non-oil sectors, and its growth requires the availability of quality tourism products and experiences. A key activity that can create synergies between culture, history and nature is an exploration of food, place and people towards eliciting the “story” of the food of Timor-Leste. This qualitative research utilised interviews and focus groups to explore how food stories and experiential culinary tourism can allow for the development of a positive narrative of resilience in contemporary Timor-Leste. The empirical findings suggest that food providers and restaurants owners share a responsibility in decisions about what food and food stories become tourism offerings in Timor-Leste.

摘要

经过 400 年的葡萄牙殖民统治和 24 年的印度尼西亚占领，冲突后的东帝汶政府一直致力于和解与民主。可持续发展方法促进了该国从内乱向国家稳定的过渡，但要让该国占多数的农村人口感受到持久的经济利益，还有很多工作要做。虽然言辞表明东帝汶致力于实现联合国的可持续发展目标并实现经济多元化，但对石油的持续依赖提出了迫在眉睫的经济和社会挑战。东帝汶的旅游业被公认为是该国最重要的非石油部门之一，其增长需要提供优质的旅游产品和体验。一项可以在文化、历史和自然之间创造协同效应的关键活动是探索食物、地方和人，以引出东帝汶食物的“故事”。这项定性研究利用访谈和焦点小组来探索美食故事和体验式烹饪旅游如何能够在当代东帝汶发展积极的复原力叙述。实证研究结果表明，食品供应商和餐馆老板在决定哪些食品和食品故事成为东帝汶的旅游产品时共同承担责任。这项定性研究利用访谈和焦点小组来探索美食故事和体验式烹饪旅游如何能够在当代东帝汶发展积极的复原力叙述。实证研究结果表明，食品供应商和餐馆老板在决定哪些食品和食品故事成为东帝汶的旅游产品时共同承担责任。这项定性研究利用访谈和焦点小组来探索美食故事和体验式烹饪旅游如何能够在当代东帝汶发展积极的复原力叙述。实证研究结果表明，食品供应商和餐馆老板在决定哪些食品和食品故事成为东帝汶的旅游产品时共同承担责任。