New training centres aim to boost tourism sector services

Photo by: Tracey Shelton
New education centres proposed by the Ministry of Tourism are set to apply international standards of training in cities in Cambodia.

Thong Khon, the tourism minister, was quoted in a press conference last week in Siem Reap as saying that the ministry plans to build hospitality and tourism training centres and culinary schools to cater to the demands of newly emerging and developed tourist sites. The schools aim to foster the development of specific skills which will allow students the ability to provide international standard service that is expected of the tourism industry.

Four sites – the capital city Phnom Penh, Preah Sihanouk, Siem Reap and Kratie provinces – are the main targets for building schools that will train the next generation of tourism and service providers who will ensure top quality products for their clients.

Thong Khon, who has recently returned from a state visit to Australia supported by the University of Queensland and AusAID (Australian Government Overseas Aid), said that his five days in the city of Noosa gave him insight into how the seaside city approaches ecotourism and adventure travel development at other Australian sites.

“We want to compete in the global economy. If we don’t have the required standard of service, how do we stand a chance of competing?” he said, adding that “we are determined to complete work in this mandate”.

Thong Khon said he remains committed to Cambodia’s viability as a growing destination with high-quality facilities and services and is certain that the Kingdom’s natural resources and physical beauty can be tapped to shape and strengthen tourism sites.

“In the past, it wasn’t that we had no desire to develop, but we did not dare to develop due to our lack of experience,” he said, adding that Cambodia is capable of building attractive new sites to which tourists will flock.

Cambodia’s limited sea coasts could be compensated for by the numerous riverside locations in several of the Kingdom’s provinces, Thong Khon said. ( Please read more )