Zambia is set to host the 3rd edition of the Travel, Hospitality & Tourism Education Summit as the highly anticipated gathering of policymakers, academics, and tourism industry stakeholders officially opens today April 7, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.
Set to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, the summit is organized by the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) in collaboration with the United Nations Tourism organization.
This year’s edition convenes under the theme: “Understanding the Knowledge and Skills Gaps in Africa’s Trade in Services Industry: Empowering Africa’s Workforce in the AfCFTA Era.” The focus reflects a growing urgency to align educational frameworks with the operational realities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), especially in the context of tourism’s increasing contribution to intra-African trade.
The Summit presents a timely and strategic platform to explore how education, training, and workforce development can serve as catalysts for sustainable growth in the tourism services sector. With participation expected from UN Tourism Member States, academic institutions, policymakers, industry practitioners, and development partners, the event is positioned to foster regional and international dialogue on the pressing need to bridge human capacity gaps within the sector.
Opening day will feature thought-provoking discussions, beginning with the presentation of the UN Tourism Education Guidelines: A New 360º Vision on Tourism Studies by Paula de Blas González, Senior Education Specialist at UN Tourism. This will be followed by a high-level presentation examining Human Development Needs for Africa’s Trade in Services in the AfCFTA Era, moderated by Mr. Jack Kaale from Copperbelt University, with insightful contributions from Ms. Nombulelo Mbuzi of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the COMESA Secretariat.
A distinguished opening session will follow with key addresses from national and international dignitaries, including the ZITHS Governing Council Chairperson Ms. Mulemwa Moongwa; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Evans Muhanga; the Head of the EU Delegation, Madam Karolina Stasiak; ILO Country Director, Mr. Wellingtone Chibebe; and Mr. John Musunga of Diageo Products PLC. Additional high-level remarks will be delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mrs. Lillian Bwalya.
The significance of the event is further underscored by the anticipated address of the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Hon. Zurab Pololikashvili, as Guest of Honor, alongside a keynote on Education and Tourism by Ms. Natalia Bayona, Executive Director of UN Tourism. A special international perspective will be offered by Hon. Carlos Andrés Peguero, Vice Minister of Tourism for International Cooperation, Dominican Republic, whose address will emphasize strengthening Africa-Americas linkages.
Central to the summit are robust panel sessions that dissect core themes in tourism education. Day two opens with Plenary Session 1: Building the Tourism Workforce Pipeline, moderated by Mr. Antonio López de Ávila of UN Tourism, with contributions from Laurent Schatzman (Swiss Education Group), Andre Mack (EHL Hospitality Business School), Dr. Charles Ndakala (Curriculum Development Centre), and Ms. Elwin Mary Mkanyika Mchigan of Kenya Utalii College.
The conversation deepens with Plenary Session 2: “Those Who Can’t, Teach!”—The Role of Industry in Education, moderated by Ms. Mulemwa Moongwa. This session will feature expert voices including Prof. Nellie Swart (University of South Africa), Mr. Todini Marecha (ILO), and Chef Martin Kobald (World Chefs), exploring the crucial synergy between educational institutions and industry expectations.
In Plenary Session 3: In Pursuit of Excellence—Approach to Tourism Education for African Destinations, Anne Kaoma Sibanda of ZITHS moderates a compelling panel with Prof. Swart, Dr. Gosnell Yorke (Copperbelt University), Dr. Tshinakaho Sunday (Cape Town Hotel School), and Mr. James Milanzi (African Parks). These experts will evaluate frameworks for enhancing education quality and standardizing professional competencies across the continent.
The day will conclude with a lively Fireside Chat: Employer Perspectives, led by Mr. Rocky Sombe of Black Zambia and Dr. Innocent Ng’ombwa of the Department of National Parks & Wildlife—offering a candid look at workforce readiness from the employer’s lens.
As the summit enters its final day, the conversation will pivot to The Economics of Tourism with Mr. Shebo Nalishebo leading the session. Delegates will then break into four specialized workshops tailored for TEVET Institutions, Universities & Colleges, Primary & Secondary Education, and the Labour/Industry/Trade ecosystem.
Each workshop will be guided by keynote inputs from leaders like Andre Mack, Prof. Nellie Swart, and others, with moderators including Mrs. Phyllis Kasonkomona (TEVETA) and Dr. Martin Mushumba (Higher Education Authority), as participants explore sector-specific pathways to elevate tourism education from the grassroots to the policy level.
At the heart of the Summit lies the reintroduction of the UN Tourism Education Guidelines, positioned to serve as a benchmark for competency-based and industry-responsive training models across Africa. These guidelines are expected to anchor deliberations on curriculum reform, skills mapping, and institutional collaboration.
The event also aligns with Zambia’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP), which identifies tourism as a key economic growth sector. By hosting this continental forum, Zambia reaffirms its commitment to fostering education-driven solutions to workforce development in line with broader regional goals.
