Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism is strengthening vocational training and industry-based internships to develop a skilled workforce capable of meeting the growing labour needs of hotels, restaurants, tour operators and other tourism businesses.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak highlighted the importance of workforce development during a visit to the École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule in Siem Reap province on September 18, following his leadership of the Enterprise-Based Vocational Internship Programme for target provinces.
The visit focused on strengthening cooperation between tourism training institutions and businesses so students gain both technical knowledge and practical workplace experience.
Key Facts
| Indicator | Details |
|---|---|
| Lead institution | Ministry of Tourism |
| Training institution visited | École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule |
| Location | Siem Reap province |
| Main focus | Vocational training and industry internships |
| Training areas | Front office, housekeeping, culinary arts, bakery and tour operations |
| School established | 2002 |
| Tourism professionals trained | More than 6,000 |
| Training objective | Align skills with tourism industry labour needs |
| Standards | ASEAN competency standards |
Tourism Skills Development Takes Centre Stage
During the visit, Hak and the delegation reviewed vocational programmes designed to prepare students for different areas of the tourism and hospitality industry.
The programmes cover:
Front-office operations
Housekeeping
Culinary arts
Bakery
Tour operations
Officials examined the curricula, practical training facilities and the preparedness of graduates to enter the workforce.
The assessment reflects the ministry’s focus on ensuring that vocational education responds directly to the skills required by tourism businesses.
Rather than relying solely on classroom-based learning, the ministry is promoting closer connections between training institutions and employers through internships and enterprise-based training.
Industry Internships Connect Students With Employers
The Enterprise-Based Vocational Internship Programme is designed to provide students with practical exposure to real workplace environments.
For tourism students, this can include working in hotels, restaurants, travel companies and other tourism-related businesses where they can apply technical knowledge in day-to-day operations.
Industry-based training also gives employers an opportunity to engage with potential future employees while helping training institutions understand changing workplace requirements.
The ministry has emphasised that stronger cooperation between vocational schools and tourism businesses is necessary to ensure that graduates possess skills that match actual industry demand.
Paul Dubrule School Has Trained More Than 6,000 Professionals
Established in 2002, the Paul Dubrule School of Hospitality and Tourism has played a role in Cambodia’s tourism workforce development for more than two decades.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, the institution has trained more than 6,000 tourism professionals since its establishment.
Its programmes cover practical hospitality and tourism disciplines, including hotel operations, culinary skills and tourism services.
The institution's focus on hands-on training complements the ministry’s efforts to strengthen vocational education and workplace-based learning.
ASEAN Competency Standards Guide Training
The Ministry of Tourism is also seeking closer alignment between vocational training and ASEAN competency standards.
Common competency frameworks can help establish clearer expectations for skills and professional capabilities across the regional tourism industry.
For Cambodian workers, alignment with regional standards can support the development of skills that are relevant not only to domestic employers but also to a tourism industry increasingly connected to ASEAN markets.
For businesses, better alignment between training curricula and workplace requirements can reduce the gap between graduation and employment.
Tourism Industry Needs Practical Skills
Tourism is a service-intensive industry in which the quality of the visitor experience depends heavily on the capabilities of frontline workers.
Hotels require employees who can manage guest services, housekeeping and food and beverage operations. Restaurants need trained culinary and service personnel, while travel businesses depend on staff with knowledge of tour operations and customer service.
As Cambodia develops new tourism products and seeks to improve service quality, the skills of its workforce become an important component of destination competitiveness.
The issue is particularly relevant in Siem Reap, where tourism represents a major part of the local economy and where authorities are implementing the Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Development Plan 2026–2030.
That plan places emphasis on improving tourism quality, developing new products under the “Siem Reap Beyond Angkor” concept and creating more memorable visitor experiences.
Skills Development Supports Siem Reap's Tourism Strategy
The workforce initiative comes at an important time for Siem Reap.
The province's new five-year tourism plan seeks to transform Siem Reap into a world-class smart heritage tourism destination while promoting sustainable, resilient, inclusive and responsible tourism.
Improving the skills of tourism workers is closely connected to those objectives.
New tourism products require workers capable of delivering specialised services, while higher service standards require continuous professional development.
The ministry is also working to diversify the province's visitor markets, including through the development of Muslim-friendly tourism.
In September, the ministry organised training on the “Trends and Needs of Muslim Tourists”, with 146 trainees from tourism and related sectors. The programme addressed issues including Halal food, prayer facilities, service information and staff understanding of Muslim culture and beliefs.
Tourism Training Can Strengthen Local Employment
Better vocational training can help connect young people and other jobseekers with employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
The practical nature of enterprise-based internships can also help students understand workplace expectations before entering full-time employment.
For tourism businesses, closer collaboration with training institutions may provide access to workers with skills tailored to specific operational needs.
This creates a potential link between vocational education, private-sector recruitment and local economic development.
From Classroom Training to Workplace Readiness
The ministry's approach places greater emphasis on workplace readiness rather than qualifications alone.
A student may understand hospitality theory but still need practical experience in handling guests, operating hotel systems, managing kitchen procedures or responding to real customer situations.
Internships can provide that transition between education and employment.
The effectiveness of the model will ultimately depend on the quality of placements, supervision by employers, consistency of training standards and the ability of curricula to keep pace with changes in the tourism industry.
Tourism Workforce Development Supports Long-Term Growth
Cambodia's tourism sector is becoming more diverse, with government and businesses developing cultural, heritage, nature, wellness, community, food, sports and other tourism products.
This diversification increases the range of skills required across the industry.
Training programmes therefore need to evolve alongside the sector, ensuring that graduates can work across different tourism businesses and adapt to changing visitor expectations.
The Ministry of Tourism's emphasis on vocational education and enterprise-based internships provides one mechanism for addressing this challenge.
Angkor Times Analysis
Cambodia's tourism workforce strategy is moving toward a closer education-to-employment model, in which vocational institutions and tourism businesses share responsibility for preparing workers. The focus on practical training and enterprise-based internships addresses an important gap between classroom knowledge and the operational skills required by hotels, restaurants and travel businesses.
The Paul Dubrule School's more than 6,000 graduates since 2002 also demonstrate the role specialised tourism institutions can play in building Cambodia's hospitality workforce. However, continued industry growth will require training programmes to evolve with new tourism products, changing visitor expectations and regional competency standards.
For Siem Reap, workforce development is particularly relevant to the province's 2026–2030 tourism strategy. Improving the quality of tourism workers can support better visitor experiences, while specialised training for emerging markets such as Muslim tourism can help businesses respond to more diverse international demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Cambodia strengthening tourism vocational training?
The Ministry of Tourism is seeking to develop a skilled workforce that can meet labour requirements in hotels, restaurants, travel businesses and other tourism-related industries.
What is the Enterprise-Based Vocational Internship Programme?
It is an initiative focused on connecting vocational education with tourism businesses so students can gain practical workplace experience alongside formal training.
What subjects are being taught?
The programmes reviewed during the minister's visit cover front-office operations, housekeeping, culinary arts, bakery and tour operations.
How long has the Paul Dubrule School operated?
The École d’Hôtellerie et de Tourisme Paul Dubrule was established in 2002 and has trained more than 6,000 tourism professionals, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Why are ASEAN competency standards important?
They provide a regional reference for tourism skills and professional competencies, helping training institutions and employers establish clearer expectations for workers.
How does workforce development support tourism?
Well-trained workers can improve service delivery across hotels, restaurants, tour companies and other tourism businesses, directly affecting visitor experiences and the quality of tourism services.
Is Cambodia developing specialised tourism training?
Yes. Alongside broader hospitality training, the Ministry of Tourism has recently conducted programmes addressing specific market needs, including training on Muslim tourism requirements.
Sources
Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia