Photo: Anne Kaoma-Sibanda, Executive Director of the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS)
Zambia is gearing up to host the third edition of the Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit, an event that has established itself as a critical platform for addressing human capital development in the tourism sector.
The summit, scheduled to take place from April 7th to 9th at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka, is expected to build on the achievements of previous editions and further position Zambia as a hub for tourism education in Africa.
Anne Kaoma-Sibanda, Executive Director of the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), spoke to Kojo Bentum-Williams for the VA Tourism Podcast, highlighting the successes of last year’s summit and what to expect in this year’s event.
The second edition of the Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit, held from April 15th to 17th, 2024, was a milestone for Zambia’s tourism education. Under the theme “Bridging the Human Capital Gap in Africa’s Tourism Industry,” the summit brought together policymakers, educators, and industry leaders to discuss ways to align learning with industry needs, particularly within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Anne noted that one of the most significant revelations from the 2024 summit was the extent of the skills and knowledge gap within the tourism industry. The COVID-19 pandemic had exacerbated these gaps, making the need for workforce development more urgent than ever. The summit addressed these challenges by reinforcing Zambia’s role as a regional leader in tourism education and training, with a focus on implementing the UN Tourism Education Guidelines.
“We were particularly keen on strengthening collaboration between training institutions, the industry, and government,” Anne explained. “We wanted to ensure that workforce development aligns with industry demands. The industry has often expressed concerns that graduates are not adequately prepared for the job market. Our goal was to bridge that gap.”
One of the most significant outcomes from last year’s event was the integration of travel and tourism education into Zambia’s National Curriculum Framework (2023-2033). This historic move ensures that tourism education is embedded in the country’s education system, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals for the sector. The first cohort of students under this framework began classes on February 10th, 2025.
Key objectives for the 2025 Summit
Building on the successes of last year, this year’s summit will be held under the theme “Understanding the Knowledge and Skills Gaps in Africa’s Trade in Services Industry: Empowering Africa’s Workforce in the AfCFTA e ra.” The focus will be on aligning tourism education and training with the broader goals of AfCFTA, ensuring that Africa’s tourism workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to drive intra-Africa trade and economic growth.
Kaoma outlined several key areas of focus for the upcoming summit:
• Reintroducing UN Tourism education guidelines: Zambia aims to strengthen education policies and align training programs with global tourism standards.
• Workforce needs in tourism: The summit will delve deeper into identifying the existing skills and knowledge gaps in the industry.
• Collaboration between industry, education and government: A stronger link between these three sectors is essential for successful workforce development.
• Internships, apprenticeships, and job placements: Addressing employability issues by ensuring graduates have hands-on experience before entering the job market.
• Intra-Africa skills development and exchange programmes: Establishing cross-border knowledge-sharing initiatives to enhance regional cooperation in tourism education.
• Tourism job creation and career pathways: Encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment in the tourism industry.
This year’s summit will also see an expansion in participation. Unlike last year, where the event was primarily local with some international speakers, the 2025 edition is open to all member states across Africa. International partnerships will play a key role, with institutions such as La Roche, Cambridge University, and Swiss Tourism Group expected to contribute to discussions on faculty development, research initiatives, and best practices in tourism education.
Zambia is working to establish itself as a leading centre for tourism education in Africa. One of the key projects supporting this vision is the development of the UN Tourism Education Academy in Mokuni, Livingstone. Kaoma confirmed that significant progress has been made, with online learning already available and plans underway for a Centre of Excellence dedicated to tourism research, training, and innovation.
“The education summit is one of the tools we are using to position Zambia as a leader in tourism education. We are working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Education to ensure that our curriculum aligns with global standards,” Kaoma said.
The government’s commitment to tourism education is evident in its support for initiatives such as the integration of tourism education into the national curriculum, the push for policy alignment, and the drive for international collaborations. Through these efforts, Zambia aims to not only meet its domestic workforce needs, but also contribute to the broader African tourism sector.
With an expanded international presence, a focus on workforce development and a commitment to positioning Zambia as a tourism education hub, the 2025 Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit is poised to be a landmark event for the industry and the Southern African country is looking forward to it with alacrity.
“We are really excited about it. We are running at a hundred and something speed because we know the immense potential that tourism education will be able to contribute to the economic growth of our country and the region at large,” Anne Kaoma-Sibanda maintained.
