Siem Reap Tourism Club (STC) formally signs a strategic MOU with the ASEAN Tourism Forum Secretariat to drive sustainable tourism standards and cross-border skills development across the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The Siem Reap Tourism Club Association (STC) has formally entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ASEAN Tourism Forum Secretariat. This landmark agreement aims to co-host a series of high-impact capacity-building workshops aimed at elevating sustainable tourism standards across the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Over 500 local hospitality professionals, boutique hotel owners, and tour operators are expected to benefit from this initiative throughout 2025 and 2026. The training modules will emphasize sustainable destination management, green hotel certifications, and digital integration.
The agreement was officially signed at STC headquarters in Siem Reap with representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, regional ASEAN delegations, and key local tourism industry leaders in attendance.
Program Objectives & Regional Impact
The joint initiative targets key structural capabilities required to elevate community-based tourism and sustainable hospitality across ASEAN:
- Deliver six intensive multi-day workshops across Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam
- Establish unified eco-certification standards for boutique heritage hotels
- Launch a regional exchange program for 30 emerging tourism leaders
- Formulate policy recommendations for sustainable heritage tourism preservation
Context & Vision
The ASEAN Tourism Forum is the region’s premier cooperative platform for advancing travel, culture, and sustainable tourism development. As destination competitiveness increasingly depends on eco-friendly practices and digital readiness, this partnership position Siem Reap as a regional beacon for responsible tourism stewardship.