In Lusaka, a quiet transformation is underway in classrooms across Zambia — one that could reshape the country's economic future. Beginning this year, secondary school students across the nation can now study Travel and Tourism as a stand-alone subject, part of the government's bold push to align education with its growing tourism sector.
The shift was celebrated at the Fourth Travel, Hospitality and Tourism Education Summit, organized by the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS). There, Minister of Education Dr. Douglas Syakalima, representing President Hakainde Hichilema, called the curriculum update a major milestone — one that will equip young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship while safeguarding Zambia's rich cultural heritage.
"This Summit provides a platform to align education, industry and policy so that tourism growth translates into quality jobs," Dr. Syakalima said.
The numbers behind that vision are striking. Zambia's tourism sector currently supports over 159,000 jobs, and officials see that figure growing as the country develops its infrastructure and workforce. A significant step in that direction: the conveyancing process for 160 hectares of land has just been completed for ZITHS, which will soon host the ZITHS Mukuni International Academy in partnership with UN Tourism.
At the summit, UN Tourism Africa Regional Director Ms. Elcia Grandcourt emphasized that expanding access to quality tourism education is essential for the continent's sustainable growth. "Tourism is a key contributor to economic growth in Africa," she told attendees. Meanwhile, the International Labour Organization stressed that skills development must lead to decent, productive jobs — a principle echoed by the EU-funded Skills Development for Increased Employability Programme, which is helping shift training from content-based learning to competence-based skills that employers actually need.
Looking ahead, Dr. Syakalima has directed the creation of Tourism Education Clubs in primary and secondary schools, along with training programmes to help teachers deliver the new curriculum effectively. It's a bottom-up approach: catch them young, give them real skills, and watch the sector grow.
For Zambia, tourism has long been an underutilized asset. Now, with industry, government, and international partners working in concert, the country is betting that its greatest resource — its people — will be ready to meet the moment.