TOURISM Minister Rodney Sikumba has opened the Livingstone satellite campus of the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (ZITHS), urging young people to take advantage of skills training and opportunities in the country’s growing tourism sector.
The campus will offer programmes in food production, front office operations, food and beverage service and tour guiding for both new entrants and industry workers seeking professional certification.
Speaking during the ZITHS Livingstone Open Day at the Livingstone Community Resource Centre on Friday, Sikumba said tourism remained one of Zambia’s most strategic sectors for economic growth, job creation and community empowerment.
The minister said Zambia’s tourism potential goes beyond its natural attractions and depends largely on skilled professionals who deliver services to visitors.
“Our country is blessed with extraordinary natural assets, from the majestic Victoria Falls to our rich wildlife, culture and heritage,” Sikumba said.
“But the true strength of our tourism sector lies not only in these natural wonders. It lies in the people who deliver the tourism experience, the chefs, the tour guides, the hotel staff and entrepreneurs who welcome visitors to our country.”
He explained that institutions such as ZITHS were critical in developing the human capital needed to sustain Zambia’s tourism industry, noting that the institution has trained professionals currently serving visitors across the country.
He also encouraged local authorities, Members of Parliament and community leaders to utilise the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support young people wishing to pursue skills training at accredited institutions.
Meanwhile, ZITHS executive director Anne Kaoma said the Open Day was meant to introduce young people and communities to the many career opportunities available within the tourism and hospitality industry.
Kaoma said for more than 60 years the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies had been producing professionals working in hotels, lodges, restaurants, tour companies and travel agencies across the country.
“Today’s event is more than simply introducing training programmes. It is about opening doors to possibilities and helping young people understand the many career pathways that exist within Zambia’s tourism and hospitality industry,” she said.
She noted that Zambia’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism segment was growing, with the country increasingly hosting large conferences and professional gatherings.
The executive director stated that Livingstone continued to position itself as a preferred destination for major events organised by professional bodies such as the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Engineering Institution of Zambia, the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management and the Law Association of Zambia.
She said such events attracted hundreds or even thousands of delegates and required a skilled workforce to ensure successful tourism and hospitality services.
“Livingstone, as Zambia’s tourism capital and home to one of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders, provides the perfect environment for developing tourism skills,” said Kaoma.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, March 15, 2026
