OUR HISTORY

Zambia Institute for Tourism & Hospitality Studies (ZITHS) began as the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Studies of Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce at Zambia’s attainment of political independence from British Colonial rule in 1964. The Government of the Republic of Zambia acquired a small hotel called “Victoria Hotel” (situated at the Corner of Protea and Church Roads in Lusaka) in 1971 from where the Department of Hotel, Catering and Tourism Studies operated. The hotel was later renamed “College Hotel” and was turned into a Hotel School. At the time, the College operated under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education.

College Hotel was later renamed “Fairview Hotel” and transferred to the Ministry of Tourism under the National Hotels Development Corporation (NHDC) in January 1989. In 1991, Fairview Hotel became autonomous and the changes in management resulted in the change of the name to “Zambia Institute for Tourism & Hospitality Studies” (ZITHS), after the dissolution of the NHDC.

OUR STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES.

1. Deliver high-quality, industry-aligned training in tourism and hospitality.
2. Upgrade infrastructure and facilities to achieve three-star hotel status (target: 2017) and create an optimal learning environment.
3. Develop and manage human resources to enhance individual and institutional performance.
4. Provide efficient administrative and logistical support to strengthen institutional operations.
5. Manage financial resources effectively and diversify revenue streams to improve service delivery.
6. Plan, monitor, and evaluate all programmes to ensure achievement of institutional goals.

Global & Professional Affiliations.

ZITHS is proudly affiliated with leading international and local professional bodies, ensuring our standards align with global best practices:

1. United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) – TedQual Certified
2. Institute of Hospitality (UK)
3. Institute of Hospitality Zambia
4. Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia (HCAZ)
5. Association of Hospitality and Tourism Schools in Africa (AHTSA)
6. International Association for Hotel Schools
7. International Air Transport Association / Universal Federation of Travel Agents Associations (IATA/UFTAA)

International Partnerships.

We collaborate with world-renowned institutions to enhance academic excellence and global exposure:

1. Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University – Institute for Advanced Research and Training in Tourism (IREST), France
2. Seychelles Tourism Academy, Seychelles
3. Macau Institute for Tourism Studies, China
4. Hong Kong Polytechnic University – School of Hotel and Tourism Management
5. Campus Lidköping University, Sweden

Areas of Collaboration:

• Staff and student exchange programmes
• Joint research and curriculum development
• Internships, apprenticeships, and industry attachments
• Sharing of innovative teaching methodologies