Kampong Thom Province: On the morning of 25 August 2026, with the high-level authorization of H.E. Hout Hak, Minister of Tourism, H.E. Pak Sokhum, Secretary of State and Chair of the HoKa Project Management Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, together with H.E. Han Kosal, Deputy Governor of the Board of Governors of Kampong Thom Province, presided over a workshop on promoting pathways for skills development and providing educational guidance in tourism professional skills under the theme “Tourism Professional Skills: Your Pathway to a Lifelong Career.” The workshop was held at Kampong Chheuteal Institute of Technology in Kampong Thom Province.
The workshop was attended by the Director of Kampong Chheuteal Institute of Technology, the Director of the Department of Tourism Professional Skills Training, the Director of the Kampong Thom Provincial Department of Tourism, representatives of tourism businesses, students, community members, and other relevant stakeholders, with approximately 200 participants in attendance.
In his opening remarks, H.E. the Secretary of State emphasized that, under the high-level attention and leadership of H.E. Hout Hak, Minister of Tourism, the Ministry, through the Department of Tourism Professional Skills Training as its specialized technical arm, has continued to place strong emphasis on human capital development in the tourism sector throughout 2026. Under the leadership of the Director and his technical team, the Department has developed and implemented plans to strengthen human resources in tourism, including training programs designed to enhance the capacities of tourism professionals, managers, and tourism business owners in technical competencies, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation within tourism-related occupations. These efforts aim to ensure the sustainability, competitiveness, and long-term development of tourism businesses.
Representing the Ministry of Tourism, H.E. the Secretary of State highly commended and appreciated the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, as well as Kampong Chheuteal Institute of Technology, for their cooperation in providing technical and vocational skills training opportunities for young people through 100% scholarship support. As a result, hundreds of students have successfully completed their studies and gained access to employment opportunities, with an employment rate of nearly 100%.
The workshop also featured presentations by three speakers covering three key topics:
1. “Tourism Professional Skills Training in Cambodia”, presented by Dr. Juab Ratana, Director of the Department of Tourism Professional Skills Training.
2. “Benefits of Studying Tourism Professional Skills and Preparing to Pursue Tourism Professional Skills for the Future”, presented by Mr. Saing Chantho, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Professional Skills Training.
3. “Sustainable Tourism Development”, presented by Mr. Chek Kearun, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism Professional Skills Training.
The key objectives of the workshop were to:
1. Promote awareness and understanding among youth, students, and relevant stakeholders regarding the importance of tourism professional skills;
2. Present pathways for tourism professional skills development, from the initial stage of skills education and training, through competency assessment and skills recognition, to career advancement and professional development;
3. Provide information and educational guidance to young people regarding available study options, enabling them to select tourism professional skills that correspond with their interests, capabilities, and labour market demands;
4. Encourage young people to pursue professional skills as a viable educational and career pathway with strong potential, in line with the continued growth of the tourism sector and the increasing demand for skilled human resources; and
5. Strengthen the linkage between skills education and employment opportunities by highlighting the actual workforce requirements of enterprises, hotels, restaurants, and tourism-related businesses.
It should be emphasized that the workshop “Tourism Professional Skills: Your Pathway to a Lifelong Career” serves not only as a platform for promoting educational and skills-training opportunities, but also as an important mechanism for contributing to the implementation of the Sambor Prei Kuk Temple Area Development Plan in Kampong Thom Province. This is achieved through strengthening the quality of human resources and enhancing the capacities of tourism workers, particularly by providing professional skills training that responds directly to the actual needs of the tourism sector and supports the sustainable development and growth of tourism destinations in the area.
