MI Facilitates Signing of MOUs among Five Heritage Cities from GMS and RoK
June 27, 2023
Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK), June 27, 2023 – Mekong Institute (MI) has forged collaborations between key stakeholders of different heritage cities in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and the RoK. These Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) establish a foundation for future cooperation mechanisms, including the sharing of information, best practices, and joint programs to promote sustainable tourism investment. By fostering these partnerships, the signatories aim to create a collaborative environment that benefits all parties involved.
MOU between Seoul city and Three Mekong Heritage Cities
The MOU between the City of Seoul and Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, and Ayutthaya seeks to establish a robust framework for collaboration and cooperation related to sustainable and smart tourism development in each city. To achieve this, the following activities have been outlined to promote the exchange of expertise and best practices, foster cross-cultural understanding for people-to-people connectivity, and celebrate the unique cultural aspects of each city:
Exchange Programs
Cultural Exhibitions
Sustainability Initiatives
Joint Marketing Campaigns
Digital Collaborations
Youth Programs
MOU between Jeonju City and Mekong Heritage cities
The MOU between the City of Jeonju and Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, and Ayutthaya sets out an overarching framework that aims to activate various mutual exchanges focusing on culture and tourism and enhance friendship. Activities during the two-year partnership are expected to contribute to the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin countries and the economic growth of the local area, as well as to promote exchange and cooperation among the parties and other joint activities.
“Through the signing of this MOU, we have laid a stepping stone for further deepening our relationship with the Mekong Region. This region has great potential and many countries are trying to find opportunities there. Additionally, we would love to share our experiences in developing tourism and culture-related initiatives.”
Ms. Hyeon-ah Banh, Director of International Cooperation Department,
City of Jeonju, South Korea
MOU between Jeonju University and Ayutthaya Tourism College and RPITS Siem Reap
This partnership will enable the two sides to collaborate on exchanging knowledge and practices related to cultural and historical tourism, human resources development, and research in World Heritage cities. It is anticipated that university students from the twinned towns will benefit from this agreement by receiving relevant training that meets industry standards.
The potential scope of collaboration is listed below:
- Internship and Apprenticeship Programs
- Curriculum Development and Exchange
- Exchange Programs
- Industry Certification and Licensing
- Industry Expert Guest Lectures
- Site Visits and Job Shadowing
- Research Partnerships
- Professional Development
The MOU signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the “Heritage Connections: Advancing Sustainable and Smart Tourism in the Mekong Region and ROK” event. The activity is part of the "Sustainable and Smart Tourism Development in the Mekong Region" project which is funded by the Mekong-Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF) and aims to promote sustainable tourism practices in the region.