On February 5, Cambodian Minister of Tourism Hout Hak received a courtesy visit from Mr Reto Grueninger, Director of Cooperation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), to discuss potential collaborative opportunities in the field of tourism.
During the meeting, Minister Hak and Mr Grueninger deliberated on various initiatives to foster vocational training within the tourism sector. This includes the implementation of the Skills Development Programme Phase II for the years 2024-2028, the establishment of national tourism qualifications, and the enhancement of assessment and recognition processes, particularly pertaining to the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Additionally, they considered support for Afro-food processing initiatives within tourism value chains.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Minister’s initiatives across the five pillars of cooperation. This includes ongoing collaboration in the Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) training programme, which has positively impacted 3,520 marginalised youths, school dropouts, and hospitality owners/managers across 12 designated provinces.
Both the Skills Development Programme (SDP), executed by Swiss Contact and the Decent Employment for Youths (DEY) programme, administered by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), have been instrumental in advancing vocational skills in tourism. These programmes facilitate decent employment opportunities for the youth and contribute to increased income levels and enhanced tourism services, aligning with national and ASEAN standards.
