PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Tourism‘s highly successful Hoka Project, which provides essential tourism skills training, is expanding its reach to new provinces across Cambodia. This follows months of acclaim from both private and public sectors for the project's positive impact.

A meeting, chaired by Mr. Chuob Ratana, Director of the Department of Tourism Planning and Hoka program Secretariat Director, was held yesterday to discuss the implementation plan. Representatives from the Skills Development Fund (SDF) also participated, focusing on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two entities on January 30, 2024.

The plan outlines several key strategies, where the project will actively promote the SDF to tourism stakeholders through workshops and digital channels, ensuring wider awareness and access to the fund's resources.

Hoka will continue to partner with tour operators, industry associations, and tourism vocational schools to identify skill needs and develop project proposals tailored to business requirements. These proposals will then be submitted to the SDF for financial support.

Furthermore, moving beyond major cities like Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Kampot, and Sihanoukville, the project will expand to new priority provinces. This ensures a wider distribution of benefits and empowers communities across Cambodia.

In collaboration with the Siem Reap Tourism Club Association (STC) and ATP Consultant, Hoka will develop pilot projects for tourism skills training in Siem Reap and other target provinces. These pilots will serve as models for future expansion.

The Hoka program has already trained over 4,106 individuals in essential skills like housekeeping, front office operations, food & beverage service, coffee making, chef training, community tour guiding, and even Hoka training & evaluation itself. This impressive reach, spanning ten provinces, demonstrates the project's commitment to empowering Cambodia's tourism industry.