STC signs MOU with the ASEAN Tourism Forum Secretariat to co-host capacity-building workshops across the Mekong sub-region, beginning Q3 2025.
The Siem Reap Tourism Club (STC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) Secretariat, marking a significant milestone in the organization's regional engagement strategy. The agreement was formalized at a ceremony held at STC's Siem Reap Secretariat on June 10, 2025, attended by senior representatives from both organizations and guests from the Ministry of Tourism.
Under the MOU, STC and ATF will co-host a series of capacity-building workshops targeting hospitality businesses, tour operators, and tourism policymakers across the Mekong sub-region, including Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The first workshop is scheduled for Q3 2025 in Siem Reap.
Program Scope and Objectives
The joint program will focus on three priority areas identified in STC and ATF's joint scoping study: digital transformation of tourism SMEs, sustainable heritage site management, and inclusive tourism finance mechanisms for rural communities.
- Four capacity-building workshops across Mekong countries (2025–2026)
- Development of a joint research paper on digital tourism in ASEAN
- Exchange program for 20 young tourism professionals from Cambodia and ASEAN member states
- A joint policy recommendation submitted to ASEAN Tourism Ministers in 2026
Background
The ASEAN Tourism Forum is the region's premier annual tourism trade and promotion event, attended by travel industry professionals, government representatives, and international buyers. STC was invited to participate in ATF 2025 following recognition of its Sustainable Heritage Tourism Program at the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Awards in 2024.
This MOU builds on an existing informal dialogue between STC and regional tourism bodies. It represents STC's first formal institutional partnership with an ASEAN-level entity and signals the organization's growing credibility on the international stage.