Zambia Summit to Drive Tourism Workforce Alignment Across Policy, Education and Industry
The Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) will host the fourth edition of the Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit (THTES) from 14 to 16 April 2026 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The summit's theme - Education as a Catalyst for Tourism Transformation - reflects a deliberate shift from policy dialogue toward structured implementation, with a focus on closing skills gaps between education systems and labour market demands. Minister of Tourism Rodney Malindi Sikumba described the 2026 edition as representing "a shift from dialogue to coordinated action, strengthening alignment between education systems, industry needs, and public policy."
Concrete progress is already evident, with travel and tourism now integrated into Zambia's national school curriculum for the second consecutive year, creating a structured learning pathway from early education through to higher and technical training. The 2026 programme will extend this framework through ministerial roundtables spanning tourism, labour, youth and technology portfolios, alongside the formal introduction of indigenous knowledge into vocational training, drawing on traditional leaders' expertise in conservation, food systems and cultural heritage. Additional initiatives include industry-aligned certification programmes, student and faculty exchange frameworks, and research collaborations between academic institutions and private sector operators, all designed to strengthen graduate employability and ensure curriculum relevance across Africa's growing tourism sector.
Source: VoyagesAfriq