An Integrated Approach to Tourism Planning in a Developing Nation: A Case Study from Beloi (Timor-Leste)

In this chapter we present a case study set in Beloi, a fishing village located on Atauro Island, 30 kilometres across the sea from Dili, capital of Timor-Leste (East-Timor). We explore the tensions between tourism development, food security and marine conservation in a developing country context. In order to better understand the relationships between the social, ecological and economic issues that arise in tourism planning we use an approach and associated methodology based on storytelling, complexity theory and concept mapping. Through testing scenarios with this approach, we seek to evaluate which tradeoffs are acceptable to local people in return for the hoped-for economic boost from increased tourist visitation and associated developments.