Siem Reap Hosts Regional Workshop on Capacity Building for ASEAN Master Assessors

Siem reap: The Regional Workshop on 'Capacity Building for ASEAN Master Assessors on the Guidelines for the Recognition of Prior Learning for ASEAN Tourism Professionals' took place at the Angkor Paradise Hotel in Siem Reap province on July 15. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the workshop's opening ceremony was led by Cambodian Minister of Tourism H.E. Huot Hak. The event saw participation from senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism, H.E. Kuch Lina from the Siem Reap Provincial Council, representatives from the ASEAN National Tourism Organisations, presidents of associations, and delegates from national and international organisations. The gathering also included national and ASEAN master assessors, representatives from relevant departments in Siem Reap, universities, tourism vocational training institutions, tourism associations and clubs, and local tourism operators, with a total attendance of about 400 students. H.E. Huot Hak highlighted that the capacity building for ASEAN Master Assessors on the ASEAN Guidelines for the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for tourism professionals addresses the current needs of the tourism industry. This initiative is in line with the outcomes of the 28th ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting in Malaysia, which focused on the significance of human resource development in the tourism sector. He further noted that the meeting urged ASEAN Member States to expedite the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) through improved capacity building for tourism professionals, including national and ASEAN-level trainers and master assessors. These efforts are being carried out alongside the full operationalisation of the Regional Secretariat to support the MRA-TP implementation, as outlined in the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2016-2025, the forthcoming ASEAN Tourism Sectoral Plan 2026-2030, and the Post-COVID-19 Recovery Plan for ASEAN Tourism.