Cambodia plans tourism schools

PHNOM PENH Two new vocational tourism training facilities are in the planning stage to improve human resources and competitiveness in Cambodia’s tourism industry.

Phnom Penh Post quoted Ministry of Tourism deputy general director, Try Chhiv, saying the government will build the first school in Phnom Penh with a capacity of 1,000 students, while the second will be built in Sihanoukville for 300 students.

“We are now preparing plans and we expect the schools to be ready by the end of 2018, which means the first students could enroll at the beginning of 2019.”

The project is underwritten by a USD11.7-million dollar loan and grants from the French government.

The schools will focus on three areas of vocational training; travel agency, tour guides and hotel services.

Cambodia is facing a shortage of tourism professionals and will need at least 1 million hospitality workers to serve an expected 7 million tourists visiting the country every year by 2020.

Only 20% of workers in the tourism industry have an adequate education and know-how. Cambodia’s tourism industry employs 620,000 people.

Last year, Cambodia attracted 4.77 million international visits compared to 4.50 million in 2014.

sourced:ttrweekly.com