Discova Cambodia Guide Sokhoeun Bout has a bright and goofy smile, which would disarm even the most cautious of visitors. But life for him wasn’t always like this.
Sokhoeun was born in 1973 in a remote village 40 km from Siem Reap city. During the brutal Pol Pot regime (1975-1979), he lived in a children’s camp and considers himself very fortunate to have survived that period.
“After 1979, my mother sent me to school, and I eventually passed the tour guide exam in 2000,” says Sokhoeun, who chose to become a guide because he was deeply passionate about sharing his experiences, knowledge, and the rich history and traditional culture of his country with visitors.
Working with Discova since 2013, Sokhoeun has won the Top Guide of the Year Award multiple times and is an expert in navigating the unanticipated hurdles or roadblocks that may come his way. But he treats even an unpleasant experience as a lesson in what can be done better next time.
He adds, “My biggest challenge occurred when some of my customers got sick from eating raw vegetables at a restaurant. I addressed this by asking the restaurant to change the dish and avoid serving raw vegetables in the future.”
As a guide, Sokhoeun believes he has learned a lot from interacting with his customers, from gaining general knowledge about their countries to understanding their behaviour. He also contacts the office staff at Discova Cambodia whenever he has questions. As such, the Discova Guide Academy has played a major role in helping him pursue his ambitions and chase his professional goals fearlessly.
“The Discova Guide Academy has been very important in my career. It offers various courses that provide essential knowledge and skills for tour guides. Based on my experience, after completing some of the learning courses, I gained a lot of new knowledge and experience that helped me improve my skills and succeed in my job,” he informs.
Sokhoeun considers it his responsibility to showcase his country in a good light through his guiding skills. To challenge the misconception that Cambodia is not a safe country, he continually emphasises the undisputed beauty of his country which has come a long way since the end of a civil war. In fact, it attracts millions of tourists every year for its impeccable preservation of ancient monuments and its rich history and culture.
His favourite Discova tour is the one to Battambang, which he keeps recommending to his guests. He says, “The city is rich in French colonial architecture and offers unique experiences, such as visiting local workshops to see how spring rolls and banana chips are made. You can also ride the bamboo train across rice fields at sunset and witness bats emerging from a cave. Battambang is home to several beautiful temples as well, and this tour will provide you with a diverse and immersive experience of the place.”
On his tours, Sokhoeun makes it a point to explain to tourists that agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for many Cambodians to support and sustain their families. The society here is also deeply spiritual and respectful of its ancient traditions, and this knowledge fosters a greater appreciation and connection between the visitors and the local community.
According to Sokhoeun, a tour guide must possess the following three qualities: clear communication, flexibility and responsibility.
“Before the tour starts, a guide should brief customers clearly about the itinerary to ensure everyone knows what to expect while also maintaining flexibility to meet the customers’ needs, so that they enjoy themselves and return home with great memories. Finally, a guide should be responsible for ensuring the safety and comfort of the customers throughout the tour,” he emphasises.
Sokhoeun pays great attention to customer feedback and believes it is crucial to grow and succeed in his career by understanding what he is doing well and what areas need improvement. By listening to feedback, he can continuously refine his approach to provide the best possible experience for future customers.
With the Cambodian government constructing a new airport near the city of Phnom Penh, Sokhoeun is optimistic that this development will likely attract more tourists to Cambodia and boost the country’s economy. With the ever-increasing demand for quality tour guides in the country, he urges young, aspiring Cambodians who are enthusiastic about joining the travel industry, to give this profession a try.
“Working as a tour guide can be rewarding yet challenging. You will encounter all kinds of customers, some easier to please than others. To succeed in this career, you need to be passionate, patient, and flexible at all times and dedicate your time, energy, and effort to exceed customer expectations. Sometimes, sacrifices need to be made, but the experiences and connections you foster by interacting with people and cultures from around the world would make this an incredibly fulfilling journey,” he concludes.
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