Tourism Sector Faces Dearth of Skilled Labor

With the number of tourists visiting the country increasing rapidly, hotels are coming under strain due to lack of skilled chefs and waiters in the industry, according to hotel managers. … In the first six months of 2012, international visitors reached 1.75 million, a 26.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year, government figures show. … But while the rise in visitors is a boon to economy, there is a distinct lack of skilled workers who can cater to their needs. … To train more local workers, the government has signed agreements with two international development agencies to create vocational schools in the country’s tourism sector. But the process is moving slowly because there is no money to fund the schools, said Ten Ratana, director of the education and training department at the Ministry of Tourism. Shift360, a Swiss organization that provides business solutions to enterprises in the Mekong region, has proposed creating the Royal Academy of Culinary Art within the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, and Agence Francaise de Develeppement (AFD), the aid arm of French government has proposed building a National Tourism School. …