Ministry of Tourism Headquarters: On the afternoon of 7 August 2026, Dr. Choub Ratana, Director of the Tourism Professional Training Department and Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Committee for Tourism Professionals, led technical officials from the Department in a working meeting with representatives of Smiling Gecko Cambodia to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation in vocational skills training for the hospitality and tourism sectors. The cooperation aims to contribute to enhancing the quality of human resources and addressing the practical needs of the labour market in line with national, ASEAN, and international standards.
During the meeting, Dr. Choub Ratana warmly welcomed the representatives of Smiling Gecko Cambodia and highly appreciated the organization’s initiative to establish and strengthen its partnership with the Ministry of Tourism. He emphasized that the engagement of development partners and relevant institutions constitutes an important driving force in creating learning and skills-training opportunities that are strongly oriented towards practical application. Such collaboration can also help young people and tourism professionals acquire relevant and market-oriented competencies that can be effectively applied in the workplace.
Dr. Choub Ratana further highlighted the visionary leadership and strong commitment of H.E. the Minister of Tourism to human resource development in the tourism sector through the implementation of three key training programmes, namely: the Cambodia Hospitality Training Programme (HoKa), training programmes aligned with the Cambodia Qualifications Framework (CQF), and training programmes based on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (ASEAN MRA-TP).
These programmes serve as important mechanisms for strengthening the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies of workers in the tourism and hospitality sectors. They also contribute to improving service quality, expanding employment opportunities, and enhancing the competitiveness of Cambodia’s workforce in response to labour market demands at the national, regional, and international levels.
During the discussions, both parties exchanged views and explored potential areas of cooperation, particularly the following priorities:
1. Registration as a Vocational Tourism Training Institution
The parties discussed the procedures and feasibility of registering Smiling Gecko Cambodia as a vocational tourism training institution specializing in hospitality. Such registration would enable the organization to develop and deliver quality training programmes based on competency and aligned with professional standards, thereby contributing to strengthening the capacities of tourism professionals and expanding employment opportunities at the national, regional, and international levels.
2. Implementation of a Pilot Project on Culinary Skills
The meeting also examined the possibility of providing relevant documents and tools related to the Competency-Based Qualifications Framework to support the implementation of a pilot project in culinary skills training for 25 students of Smiling Gecko Cambodia.
The pilot project will focus on strengthening theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies, enabling students to better prepare for successful entry into the labour market.
This cooperation is expected to contribute to strengthening the ecosystem for tourism skills development by establishing stronger linkages among training, professional standards, and labour market needs. It will further contribute to improving workforce productivity, service quality, and the competitiveness of Cambodia’s human resources, while supporting the Royal Government’s vision of developing Cambodia’s tourism sector into a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic sector.
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