Ministry of Tourism- NCTP

Placement organization

Name of organization: Ministry of Tourism- NCTP
Town/city: Phnom Penh
Country: Cambodia
Website: http://www.tourismcambodia.org

Student

Name of student: Anna Petersen

Specialist area: ITMC
Placement period: 2015-2016

Information about placement organization

Type of organization: Ministry of Tourism
Organization’s activities: The National Committee for Tourism Professionals aims to improve the mobility of tourism professionals among ASEAN countries. In order to do so, they are in the process of improving the quality of tourism professionals in the nation. By organizing activities and having tourism schools educate according to Mutual Recognition Arrangement-standards (arrangement among ASEAN-member states) they are trying to create coherence in qualification.
Target group of the organization: Tourism Professionals
Company culture: The Company culture is very formal with a strong hierarchy, which needs to be respected.
Number of employees: 16
Dress code: formal
Did the organization meet the agreements you made beforehand? Agreements were changed throughout the Internship

Information about your placement

In which department(s) are you working? I was working in the Department NCTP – National Committee for Tourism Professionals
Brief description of your daily activities: My daily activities consisted of correcting articles and reports, writing minutes of meetings, correcting German Tour Guide Exams, Researching Skill Development and the Tourism Labour Workforce and writing reports on this topic. Furthermore, I had to create several Powerpoints for the boss of the Secretariat, create Surveys and assist my supervisor with the organisation of a stocktaking conference.
Brief description of your company assignment: The assignment which the company assigned to me was a project proposal for the Skill Development in Rural Areas of Cambodia in accordance with the ASEAN standard. In addition I had to develop the guidelines for the Implementation of the Apprenticeship Program in Cambodia.
Comment briefly on your supervision by the organization: During the Internship, I had very little supervision. You will need to work very independently and the boss will ask you to present your progress to him. Therefore, it is very important to manage your time efficiently.

Requirements for students on placement

What kind of personal skills are required for this placement? Independent, flexible, sociable, team-player
Additional company requirements for this placement? MS Office, writing skills, researching skills
English: Advanced
Spanish:
French:
German:
Italian:
Other languages:

The trip

Mode of transport to reach your destination: Airplane

Accommodation

How did you arrange your accommodation? previous student
How did you go to work every day? bicycle/ tuktuk

Visa / work permit / vaccinations

Do you need a visa? You will receive a Business Visa on Arrival
Do you need a work permit? No
How did you arrange the necessary documents: Visa on Arrival at Airport
How much time did it take to arrange the necessary documents? 10 minutes
Did you need certain vaccinations? Yes
How long in advance? 2 Months in Advance

Language course

Did you take a language course before you started your placement? No
Would you recommend to have a language course prior to this placement? NO

The costs in euros

Travelling expenses (e.g. return ticket): € 800 Euro
Accommodation (monthly): € 220 Euro
Local transport (monthly): € 80 Euro
General costs of living (monthly): € 250 Euro
Costs of visa: € 25 Euro
Costs of work permit: € –
What did the company pay for/to you? I did not receive any compensation during my Internship.

Culture

How did you prepare for the country’s culture?
I read travel books and blogs online about the Culture in Cambodia.
Did the culture of the country influence your performance during the placement in any way? The Hierarchy is very strong in the country which is also shown in the work placement, therefore it is important to respect that and not be as direct as you are used to in the Netherlands.

Future students on placement

Future students are free to contact me for further information: Yes
My e-mail address: anna@petersenfamily.com

Other information

Recommendations on what to do and what not to do: It is important to respect the hierarchy within the country. Furthermore, Cambodia is a very Buddhist country, therefore it is important to wear clothes which cover your shoulders and knees. In addition, the clothes need to be formal at the Ministry of Tourism.

Overall, Cambodia is still a very developing country therefore it is very crucial to be very patient and do not expect the highest health standards.
Leisure possibilities in the city/surroundings of where the placement took place: Phnom Penh itself is not that big, however you have many museums such as the Killing Fields, Genocide Museum and National Museum. On the weekends you are able to shop at several markets, eat at small cafes and stroll along the riverside. My colleagues also took me to Mountain Oudong and to a picnic place outside of Phnom Penh.
Cambodia is a beautiful country with many places to visit. However, be careful with the food sold on the Streets and in the Markets.

Media

Youtube link Youtube placement video link