As the country’s tourism sector continues to expand and diversify, there is a growing need for a highly skilled and well-trained workforce capable of delivering consistently high-quality, professional services that meet both local and international standards and enhance the overall visitor experience. The Hospitality Kampuchea (HoKa) Training Programme has played a crucial role in bridging this skill gap, improving the hospitality skills and creating new opportunities for disadvantaged youth, low-skilled workers, and small and medium business owners.
Key achievements: Reaching 1,322 trainees in the first nine months of 2025
The HoKa Training Programme has made significant progress in expanding access to practical and relevant hospitality training. A total of 1,322 disadvantaged youth, tourism professionals, and tourism business owners have now received training through the programme. This support has helped participants gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to perform effectively in the tourism sector.
Participants included disadvantaged youth striving for better employment opportunities, working professionals looking to upgrade their skills, and tourism business owners seeking to improve service quality and management practices. The programme’s practical, hands-on approach ensured that graduates could immediately apply their skills in their workplaces or new job placements.
Leadership meeting: reviewed progress and success.
The results of the programme were presented during the HoKa Steering Committee’s meeting for the second semester of 2025. Held on 27 November 2025 at the Pursat Provincial Department of Tourism, the meeting brought together representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, provincial authorities and private sector partners.
During the meeting, the HoKa team presented updates on the number of trainees, the quality of the training delivered, and the progress made in strengthening cooperation with provincial tourism departments and local businesses. Participants noted that motivation among trainees remained high and that many businesses had begun to see noticeable improvements in service quality after their staff completed the HoKa training programme. The meeting also underscored the importance of maintaining strong coordination among all partners to ensure that training continues to reach those who need it most.
A strong partnership supporting sector development
The HoKa programme is part of the Skills Development Programme (SDP), which is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Liechtenstein Development Service (LED). Implemented by Swisscontact in consortium with involas, the SDP works closely with the Ministry of Tourism to build a stronger and more professional hospitality workforce.
This partnership has enabled HoKa to develop a practical, accessible training system focused on the real needs of businesses and workers. The programme supports Cambodia’s broader goals of creating job opportunities for youth, strengthening local economies, and enhancing the country’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
Looking Ahead: Building a Skilled and Competitive Tourism Workforce
As Cambodia continues to promote tourism as a key driver of economic development, there will remain a high demand for well-trained hospitality workers. The HoKa Training Programme has helped lay a strong foundation by providing high-quality training to over a thousand people, many of whom are now better placed to find employment or grow their businesses.
In the years ahead, the HoKa programme will focus on expanding to more provinces, enhancing trainers, assessor capacity, and collaborating more closely with businesses to ensure training remains responsive to market needs. By doing so, HoKa will continue to play an essential role in creating a skilled workforce to support the long-term growth of the tourism sector.