UN Tourism’s Secretary-General says education is catalyst for Africa’s tourism development
The 3rd Travel, Hospitality & Tourism Education Summit officially opened in Lusaka with a powerful call to action from the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism), placing education at the heart of Africa’s tourism development agenda.
Held from April 7 to 9 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, the summit brings together stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to tackle the pressing issue of workforce readiness in Africa’s tourism sector.
Organised by the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) in partnership with UN Tourism, the summit opened with high-level remarks from regional and international leaders. UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili delivered a keynote address that underscored the urgent need for structured, relevant, and inclusive education systems to support Africa’s growing tourism industry.
“Africa is the youngest continent, with 60% of its population under the age of 25,” he noted. “These young people represent immense potential—not just for tourism, but for the socio-economic transformation of their communities. But to unlock that potential, we must invest in education pathways that lead to real, sustainable opportunities.”
Citing 2023 data, Pololikashvili highlighted that travel and tourism accounted for just 4.9% of employment across Africa—a figure he said could grow significantly through targeted educational reforms and strategic skills development. Addressing the mismatch between industry needs and workforce capabilities, he called for a recalibration of education systems to meet the evolving demands of the sector and enhance Africa’s attractiveness to global investors.
The summit is held 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 theme aligns with continental efforts to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive intra-African trade, with tourism emerging as a key growth sector.
Pololikashvili spotlighted the Mukuni International Academy for Tourism and Hospitality—a collaborative initiative between UN Tourism and ZITHS—as a model for locally anchored, globally informed capacity-building. He reaffirmed UN Tourism’s commitment to supporting curriculum diversification, lifelong learning, and youth employment.
“Our task here is to determine how education can serve as both an entry point and an engine for a resilient, inclusive tourism sector,” he emphasised. “The industry is evolving, and so too must our systems of education and training.”
He added that education not only empowers individuals but also reinforces the sustainability and resilience of the tourism ecosystem by instilling knowledge, responsibility, and a sense of stewardship among future professionals.
The summit’s opening day also featured remarks from Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, Honourable Rodney Sikumba; Minister of Education, Honourable Douglas Siakalima; and the Dominican Republic’s Deputy Minister of Tourism for International Cooperation, Honourable Carlos Andrés Peguero. Additional contributions came from Permanent Secretaries Evans Muhanga (Tourism) and Lillian Bwalya (Commerce, Trade and Industry), as well as representatives from the European Union Delegation, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and private sector leaders.
Over the next two days, the summit will host a series of panels, plenaries, and workshops addressing critical issues such as workforce development, academia-industry partnerships, and competency-based learning. Key sessions include:
• Building the Tourism Workforce Pipeline
• The Role of Industry in Education
• In Pursuit of Excellence—Approach to Tourism Education for African Destinations
As Zambia cements its role as a regional hub for tourism education and workforce development, this year’s summit marks a pivotal step in advancing Africa’s human capital strategy in tourism.
Closing his address, Secretary-General Pololikashvili urged delegates to move from conversation to action: “Let this summit be a platform not only for dialogue but also for decisive steps forward. Through collaboration, we can ensure tourism remains a powerful driver of progress, dignity, and opportunity across Africa.”
