Studies in Promoting the Tourism Sector in Zambia: The Response of Public Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

Economic diversification remains a priority for African countries seeking to grow their economies. The tourism sector offers numerous economic opportunities that can be harnessed to reflect the Structural Transformation agenda set by the members of the African Union. The rich natural and cultural heritage spread across the continent demands an effective response from Higher Education Institutions in calibrating their training content to reflect the evolving needs of the industry.
This paper undertakes a case study of Zambia. It studies the evolution of the tourism policy and Institutional frameworks from its independence era to 2020, in order to note important themes that have been emphasized over time. The paper then outlines findings from a survey amongst public higher education institutions offering programs targeted for the tourism sector. The paper evaluates the manner in which these Institutions reflect Zambia’s aspirations for the tourism sector.
The paper proposes that the multifaceted nature of the tourism sector provides Higher Education Institutions with an opportunity to be creative in the training of professionals for the industry. It further advocates for indigenous solutions to the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector in each African country.