The International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) hosted a regional workshop in Siem Reap, Cambodia, to launch its flagship initiative aimed at promoting sustainable tourism, Destination Eco-Talents. Held from March 26 to 28, the three-day event gathered over 80 key stakeholders from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.

Promoting Sustainable Tourism Development

The participants discussed and shared best practices in sustainable tourism and regional collaboration.

Dr. Thok Sokhom, Secretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism, emphasised the government’s commitment to sustainable, green tourism growth.

Edgar Doerig, OIF’s Representative for Asia-Pacific, underscored the urgent need to address climate change and position tourism as a driver of sustainable development.

“Tourism must become an engine of sustainable development, capable of generating jobs while preserving natural and cultural resources,” he stated.

Regional Cooperation and Education

A key objective of the DET project is to build partnerships among governments, the private sector, academia and local communities. OIF’s strategy leverages the French language as a tool to foster sustainable development and regional cooperation.

Education and training were highlighted as crucial aspects of sustainable tourism, aligning with the 2025 International Day of La Francophonie theme: “I educate myself, therefore I act.”

Cambodia’s Strategic Role

Siem Reap has been selected to host the first Destination Eco-Talents Center, which will be dedicated to providing training programmes and resources to support the promotion and implementation of sustainable tourism practices and experiences. Cambodia is positioned as a pilot country of the DET project, serving as a model for sustainable tourism initiatives in the region.

The workshop concluded on March 28 with a field visit to OIF-funded projects in the Siem Reap region, reinforcing Cambodia’s role in advancing sustainable tourism.

Commitment to Francophonie and Sustainable Tourism

Speaking in French, Dr. Sokhom highlighted Cambodia’s proud membership in La Francophonie and its benefits in fostering diplomatic and economic partnerships, particularly in tourism development.

The DET project aligns with OIF’s broader strategy of using the French language to promote sustainable development and regional cooperation. Key themes include training young people and women in sustainable tourism with a focus on professionalisation and employability, developing eco-friendly tourism offerings and establishing networks to share best practices and opportunities.

Participants at the workshop explored various aspects of the DET project, including successful case studies from the Mekong region and the role of regional collaboration in strengthening the tourism sector. The OIF emphasised the importance of education and digital innovation in transforming tourism to meet the needs of today’s eco-conscious travellers.

Ms. Adjara Diouf, Project Coordinator at REPAP/OIF, reiterated OIF’s dedication to promoting the French language, cultural diversity, peace, democracy, human rights, education and sustainable economic development.

She noted that between 2014 and 2022, OIF’s pilot initiative on the blue economy and sustainable tourism for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) laid the groundwork for concrete actions, including political consultations, advocacy efforts and on-the-ground projects from 2021 to 2023 in the Indian Ocean region.

With ongoing collaboration, Cambodia, along with Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, is paving the way for a sustainable tourism future — one where local communities thrive, and the environment is preserved for generations to come.

This event benefited from comprehensive carbon offsetting covering all activities conducted within Cambodia (excluding international transport), thereby ensuring effective carbon neutrality.

A total of 36 tonnes of CO2 was offset, demonstrating a concrete commitment to environmental sustainability. The carbon credits will be used to support projects in Cambodia, further enhancing their local and sustainable impact.