Dear Members,
Air Timor, together with several tourism partners, is organising a media familiarisation trip next week and has offered limited places to our journalist members. The draft itinerary is attached and is subject to changes depending on the availability of newsmakers, including President Jose Ramos-Horta, for interviews. You will be joining print reporters and TV crews from the US, China and Thailand.
All accommodation, meals, airfares and ground transport will be hosted. You will however need to bring with you:
US$30 for visa on arrival
US$10 departure tax.
* Bring US dollars in small denominations and notes that are relatively new, i.e. those showing smaller portraits of US presidents are not accepted in Timor-Leste, nor are US coins.
Timor-Leste is Asia’s youngest country and is currently lobbying hard to become Asean’s 11th member. In recent days, it has secured Indonesia’s (as Asean chair) support to do so. While UNMIT’s mandate has been extended for another year, the country also wants to cut its reliance on the UN and handle its own affairs entirely. Policing and defence responsibilities have been handed over to Timor’s own police and military forces in phases over the past year. This fledgling country is starting to stand on its own feet and has many fascinating stories waiting to be told. Tourism is beginning to take off and air links to the country have improved considerably in recent months.
I had the opportunity to make several trips to Timor-Leste last year with a group of journalism students from NTU. Some of their published work can be viewed here: http://gofar.journalism.sg/in-the-press-2/.
If you are keen to be part of the Air Timor media familiarisation trip, email secretariat@pressclub.org.sg by Wed 9 March 12 noon indicating the following:
Name
Title/Media Organisation
(Attach your past clippings if you wish)
Please note that this trip is NOT organised by the Singapore Press Club and is only open to working journalists, photographers and camera persons at the request of the hosts. Places are not guaranteed and are allotted at the hosts’ discretion.
If you have any questions about reporting in the country (not the trip), you can email me at jnlau@ntu.edu.sg.
Best regards,
Lau Joon-Nie
VP, Singapore Press Club