Zambia to Host Pivotal Summit on Tourism Education and Workforce Development
Zambia is set to host the highly anticipated third edition of the Travel, Hospitality, and Tourism Education Summit, a key event aimed at transforming tourism education and workforce development across Africa. Scheduled for April 7-9, 2025, the summit will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, bringing together stakeholders from across the continent to address critical skills gaps and prepare the tourism sector for the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Organized by the Zambia Institute for Tourism & Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), this year’s summit will focus on the theme, “Understanding the Knowledge and Skills Gaps in Africa’s Trade in Services Industry: Empowering Africa’s Tourism Workforce in the AfCFTA Era.” The event aims to unite educators, policymakers, and employers as equal partners in strengthening human capital for tourism and related sectors. It builds on the UN Tourism Education Guidelines (2022), which advocate for clear professional and educational pathways to create a sustainable and competitive tourism industry.
The summit aligns with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which emphasizes the pivotal role of tourism in boosting the national economy. As a key economic driver, tourism fosters strong linkages with sectors such as hospitality, transport, and retail, while offering significant employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth. By addressing existing skills gaps, the summit aims to enhance service delivery and improve Africa’s global competitiveness in the tourism sector.
Since its inception in 2023, the Travel, Hospitality & Tourism Education Summit has become a cornerstone for advancing tourism education in Zambia. Previous editions achieved notable milestones, including the integration of Travel & Tourism as a subject pathway in the Zambia Education Curriculum Framework (ZECF 2023-2033). This initiative has aligned educational priorities with industry needs, ensuring that the workforce is better equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic tourism landscape.
The 2025 summit is expected to attract a diverse range of participants, including representatives from UN Tourism, academia, and industry practitioners. Supported by Zambia’s Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Education, the event underscores the government’s commitment to promoting competency-based learning and fostering partnerships between education and industry. This collaborative effort aims to empower Africa’s tourism workforce to thrive within the AfCFTA framework.
As preparations gain momentum, ZITHS has extended invitations to sponsors, speakers, educators, and employers to participate in this transformative event. The summit offers a unique platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and the exchange of best practices, making it an unmissable opportunity to shape the future of Africa’s tourism workforce and drive sustainable growth in the sector.
