Ahmad Shafiq, Founder, President and CEO of COTHM Global UK, represented Pakistan at the 33rd EURHODIP Conference in Tangier, Morocco, bringing the perspective of Pakistan’s hospitality and tourism education sector to an international gathering of educators, academic leaders and industry professionals.
His participation highlighted Pakistan’s growing engagement with the global hospitality and tourism community, particularly in skills development, professional education, workforce preparation and international collaboration. As a hospitality leader from Pakistan, Ahmad Shafiq’s presence provided an opportunity to showcase the country’s role in preparing skilled professionals for an increasingly interconnected global industry.
The 33rd EURHODIP Conference brought together professionals associated with hospitality and tourism education to exchange knowledge, discuss emerging industry trends and explore opportunities for collaboration. Key areas of relevance included innovation in teaching, digital transformation, sustainability and stronger links between educational institutions and employers.
For Pakistan, international platforms such as EURHODIP offer opportunities to strengthen academic partnerships, share professional expertise and connect local talent development with global workforce requirements. Hospitality and tourism education can play an important role in preparing young people for careers across hotels, restaurants, culinary arts, travel, tourism and related service industries.
Through COTHM’s focus on professional training and industry-oriented education, Shafiq’s participation also underscored the importance of connecting classroom learning with practical skills and employment opportunities. Greater international cooperation can help educational institutions respond to changing employer expectations while supporting career mobility and professional development.
The conference in Tangier also provided a platform to discuss shared challenges facing hospitality and tourism education, including evolving guest expectations, technological change, sustainability and the need for graduates to develop both technical expertise and strong interpersonal skills.
Ahmad Shafiq’s representation of Pakistan and COTHM at the international gathering reflected the importance of Pakistani hospitality leadership engaging with global education networks and contributing to discussions shaping the future of the sector.
As hospitality and tourism continue to evolve, stronger international connections between educators and industry professionals can help create new opportunities for skills development, knowledge exchange and workforce growth.
Note for publication: Confirm the conference dates, Shafiq’s official participation and COTHM’s formal role with the event organisers before publishing.
