Join the SummitCall for Participation: Travel, Hospitality, and Tourism Education Summit 2026Event

The Summit’s theme, “Education as a Catalyst for Tourism Transformation: Promoting Indigenous Knowledge and Vocational Training in African Tourism”, highlights education as a key driver of tourism transformation, emphasizing:

• Practical vocational skills

• Integration of indigenous knowledge

• Stronger links between education and industry

• Sustainable and inclusive tourism growth

In short, it shows how education can shape a skilled, culturally grounded, and future-ready tourism sector.

This summit is designed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including:

• Educators from public and private learning institutions, both local and international
• Industry Practitioners from travel, tourism, and hospitality operators
• Policy Makers involved in human resource development
• Employers seeking to enhance human resource development in the tourism sector
• International Experts in tourism and education

• Contribute to the Implementation of UN Tourism Education Guidelines: Be part of the movement to re-introduce the UN Tourism Education Guidelines as the foundation for building human capacity in Africa’s tourism sector.
• Address Skills Gaps: Engage in crucial discussions to identify and address the skills and knowledge gaps affecting the tourism sector.
• Shape the Future of Tourism Education: Help define learning and career paths in the industry and analyze innovative teaching methods.
• Network and Collaborate: Connect with leading educators, industry professionals, and policymakers to foster regional partnerships for faculty development and student exchange programs.
• Learn About Zambia’s Tourism Strategy: Gain insights into Zambia’s tourism strategy and its commitment to human capital development and education.
• Promote Job Creation: Participate in dialogues focused on the shared opportunity of job creation within the tourism sector in the region.
• Contribute to Intra-Africa Tourism Growth: Be a part of the initiative to tap into the potential of Intra-Africa Tourism in the post-pandemic era.
• Establish Partnerships: Forge partnerships between learning institutions and employers.
• Access a Recruitment Platform: The summit will establish an annual public recruitment portal for both the public and private sectors.

The Education Summit 2026 aims to:

• Position education and skills development as a strategic driver of tourism transformation and economic diversification, supporting job creation, productivity, and inclusive growth.
• Strengthen industry–education integration to ensure curricula, assessment, and training outcomes are aligned to current and future labour market needs across the tourism value chain.
• Advance a one government approach to tourism human capital development, strengthening coordination among education, labour, trade, tourism, and conservation portfolios.
• Build educator and institutional capacity to deliver relevant, future-oriented Travel and Tourism education from school level through TEVET and higher education.
• Promote sustainable, conservation-led, and culturally grounded tourism skills, including the integration of indigenous knowledge systems and vocational excellence.
• Consolidate Zambia’s regional leadership role in tourism education and skills development, leveraging partnerships with UN Tourism, regional bodies, and development partners.

• The summit anticipates the following outcomes:

  • Policy and technical recommendations on tourism education and skills development
  • Strengthened industry–education partnerships
  • Enhanced capacity of teachers and educators
  • Inputs into a coordinated national tourism education and skills strategy
  • Reduced duplication and improved donor coordination
  • Strengthened positioning of ZITHS as a regional centre of excellence

For more information and to register for the summit, please contact us at ed@ziths.edu.zm | events@ziths.edu.zm.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of a transformative event for the tourism sector in Africa.
We look forward to your participation!