PHNOM PENH, May 3, 2024 — The Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) Steering Committee, under the Ministry of Tourism, has successfully trained 4,556 disadvantaged youths across 10 provinces, as reported during the recent "HoKa Skills Day 2024" celebration.

The event, themed "Tourism Investment, Human Resources Investment," was marked by a gathering of notable figures including Tith Chantha, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism, Christian Disler, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at the Swiss Agency of Development and Cooperation, and Christian Volker Ide, Team Leader of the Skills Development Programme.

This initiative is part of a robust collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and Swisscontact, aiming to bolster the local tourism sector by enhancing the skills of its workforce. The HoKa Skills Day served as a platform to conclude the outcomes of the training efforts and to exchange insights on tourism human resources development. Highlights included presentations on the 1.5 million TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) initiative for disadvantaged youths by a representative of the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, and on the Skills Development Fund's support for tourism training.

The discussions at the event also covered the Ministry of Tourism’s contributions to TVET policies for disadvantaged youths and the development of the coffee industry as a catalyst for human resources development and promotion of local products. These discussions featured insights from inter-ministerial committees, private sector leaders, and training school representatives.

The successful training of thousands of young individuals not only enhances their employment prospects but also supports the growth and sustainability of Cambodia's tourism industry.