Durban Fever Travel and Tours hosted the 1st Annual Tourism and Maritime Careers Expo and Entrepreneurship 2026 at the Maritime School of Excellence last week Friday to give valuable insights and empower Grade 12 learners from high schools in Durban.
The purpose of the expo was to ensure that the learners are exposed to the maritime and tourism industries. Leading institutions and industry organisations – including the Durban University of Technology, MANCOSA, Coastal TVET College, Regent Business School, the Central Applications Office, SA Maritime School and Transport College, and the eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) were part of the exhibitors at the expo.
Speaking to EMC, Durban Fever Travel and Tours’ Thokozani Mngomezulu said the main reason for the event was to make sure the learners benefit from the information shared by the exhibitors.
“The challenge that exists between the learning institutions and the industry is a gap of information. You find that the school is teaching certain content which doesn’t speak to what the industry needs. This expo which combines Maritime and Tourism is a unique one, it’s a first of its kind in Durban because these two industries are the main contributors to the economy,” said Mngomezulu.
He added that another key element of the expo is not only to highlight career opportunities, but also to conscientise learners about the potential to start their own tourism businesses, which is critical for driving economic participation and taking ownership of the sector.
Kelebogile Madubeka from Mowat Park High School expressed joy about attending the career expo.
“It has exposed me more to Maritime institutions. It has encouraged me to work hard on my studies so that I can meet the requirements for further study. I anticipate being someone who works under Transportation and Logistics, and I hope these different institutions visit other schools and give them information so that they can be knowledgeable like us,” she said.
The eThekwini Maritime Cluster is proud to have been part of the 1st Annual Tourism and Maritime Careers Expo and Entrepreneurship 2026 and is confident that the expo will continue to inspire young learners to pursue careers in the maritime and tourism sectors.