Africa needs strategic investment in education to strengthen tourism workforce – Pololikashvili

Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary general, UN Tourism, has called on the need for strategic investment in education to strengthen Africa’s tourism workforce.

The secretary general of the UN’s special agency made the call in his keynote address at the opening of the 3rd Travel, Hospitality & Tourism Education Summit in Lusaka, Zambia on April 7, 2025.

The keynote address further 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 percent of its population under the age of 25,” he noted. “These young people represent immense potential and 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 percent 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.

Meanwhile, the summit, which was held from April 7-9, 2025, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, brought together stakeholders from across the continent and beyond to tackle the pressing issue of workforce readiness in Africa’s tourism sector.

It was organised by the Zambia Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) in partnership with UN Tourism, and opened with high-level remarks from regional and international leaders.

It 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”, which 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.

Also, 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 opening day also featured remarks from Rodney Sikumba, Zambia’s Minister of Tourism; Douglas Siakalima, Minister of Education; and Carlos Andrés Peguero, Deputy Minister of Tourism for International Cooperation, Dominican Republic. 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.

Read also: Why education, industry must collaborate to shape tourism’s future

Over the two days, the summit hosted a series of panels, plenaries, and workshops addressing critical issues such as workforce development, academia-industry partnerships, and competency-based learning.

Key sessions included: Building the Tourism Workforce Pipeline; The Role of Industry in Education and 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 marked a pivotal step in advancing Africa’s human capital strategy in tourism.

Excited at the feats achieved at the summit, Pololikashvili, in his closing remarks, urged the 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,” the secretary general urged.