The upcoming Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit, THTES, set for 14 to 16 April 2026 in Lusaka, is taking on heightened national significance as President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to attend as Guest of Honour, signaling a decisive endorsement of tourism education as a pillar of Zambia’s economic transformation agenda.
Unlike previous editions, where the focus largely centered on sector dialogue, the 2026 summit is emerging as a policy-driven platform anchored at the highest level of government. The anticipated presence of the President reframes the gathering from an industry convening into a strategic interface between state leadership, education systems and the tourism economy.
Government sources and sector stakeholders indicate that the President’s participation is expected to reinforce ongoing reforms that integrate tourism into Zambia’s national development framework, particularly through education and skills training. His attendance also positions tourism human capital development alongside mining, agriculture and energy as a priority area for structured investment and policy coordination.
Hosted by the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies, the summit will convene ministers, regulators, training institutions and private sector actors, but it is the Head of State’s involvement that is expected to shape the tone of discussions. Observers note that this level of engagement often translates into accelerated policy alignment, funding prioritization and inter-ministerial coordination.
Anne Kaoma, Executive Director, Zambia Institute of Tourism & Hospitality Studies (ZITHS)
At the core of the summit is a growing recognition that Africa’s tourism competitiveness will increasingly depend on the quality, relevance and scale of its workforce. Zambia’s approach, now receiving presidential attention, places education at the centre of this transition, linking classroom learning to industry needs and national economic goals.
The summit will also serve as a platform to showcase Zambia’s expanding tourism education architecture, including curriculum reforms, vocational training pathways and institutional strengthening efforts. With the President’s expected endorsement, these initiatives are likely to gain stronger visibility among international partners and development agencies.
Regionally, Hichilema’s participation sends a broader signal. It positions Zambia as one of the few African countries elevating tourism education to the highest level of policy discourse, at a time when destinations across the continent are seeking to move beyond arrivals and receipts toward value creation and skills development.
As Lusaka prepares to host delegates from across Africa and beyond, THTES 2026 may well mark a turning point, where tourism education moves from being a supporting component to a central driver of Africa’s tourism future.
