Durban Tourism And Kaslam Events

More than 200 learners and students from various educational institutions, including Elangeni TVET College and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, participated in the INK-Kasi Xperience Tourism Awareness Month Tour on 22 September 2026.

The initiative aimed to expose young people to the rich heritage, culture, and tourism opportunities within the INK (Inanda, Ntuzuma, and KwaMashu) communities, while encouraging them to explore and appreciate the attractions and stories within their own city.

Hosted by KASLAM Events in partnership with the Durban Tourism Directorate, the initiative brought tourism awareness directly into communities, highlighting the role that heritage, cultural experiences, and community-based tourism can play in growing the local visitor economy.

The tourism and heritage journey took participants from KwaMashu through to Inanda, visiting significant sites including the Gandhi Settlement, EkuPhakameni, Inanda Seminary, heritage sites associated with Dr Pixley ka-Isaka Seme and Bertha Mkhize, the Inanda Old Post Office, and Ohlange Institute.

The programme provided students with an opportunity to learn about the history, people, and stories that have shaped the INK communities and contributed to South Africa’s broader heritage.

Speaking on behalf of the eThekwini Municipality, Councillor Nxumalo emphasised the importance of encouraging residents, particularly young people, to discover the tourism opportunities within their own communities.

Councillor Nxumalo said: “Today is more than a tourism programme. It is an opportunity to appreciate what we have, share our stories, and open our communities to the world. Our journey has taken us through places of great historical, cultural, and community significance. These sites carry the memories, achievements, struggles, faith, and leadership of generations who have shaped our City and our country.”

Councillor Nxumalo added that the initiative demonstrated that tourism starts at home, encouraging residents to become tourists in their own City.

Councillor Nxumalo said: “Our communities, heritage sites, local businesses, food, music, art, and stories are all part of the rich tourism experience that eThekwini has to offer. When we visit local attractions, support local businesses, use local tour guides, and recommend local experiences, we contribute to the tourism economy.”

The Councillor further highlighted tourism’s contribution to employment, entrepreneurship, skills development, and local economic opportunities, encouraging young people to consider careers and businesses in tourism and hospitality.

The participation of more than 200 students was central to the day’s programme, with the initiative providing an opportunity for young people to engage directly with their City’s heritage and understand potential career pathways within the tourism sector.

Students were encouraged to use technology to tell local stories, create digital content, learn about their heritage, and explore opportunities in tour guiding, hospitality, events, photography, filmmaking, cultural tourism, and entrepreneurship.

Councillor Nxumalo said: “You do not have to travel far to find a story worth telling. There are stories all around us.”

For KASLAM Events, the initiative was also about changing perceptions of the INK communities and showcasing the positive stories, people, and experiences that exist within KwaMashu, Inanda, and surrounding areas.

Event organiser Anelisa Ngwenya said: “The day’s programme was an important first step towards establishing the Tourism Awareness Month activation as an annual initiative.”

The initiative also forms part of the broader INK-Kasi Xperience, which will culminate in the main INK-Kasi Xperience event on 19 December 2026 at Princess Magogo Stadium.

The December programme will continue to engage young people and communities through tourism, entertainment, and community-focused activities.

The organisers emphasised that the initiative seeks to challenge misconceptions about the INK communities by providing platforms for residents to tell their own stories and showcase the positive aspects of their neighbourhoods.

Ngwenya said: “It is our duty, as people who were born, raised, and live here, to remove misconceptions and showcase what KwaMashu, Inanda, Ntuzuma, and the surrounding communities are really about. These are our homes, and we want to tell our stories and make tourism work for our communities.”

The Tourism Awareness Month Tour demonstrated the importance of collaboration between government, educational institutions, communities, tourism businesses, heritage institutions, event organisers, and other stakeholders.

KASLAM Events acknowledged the support of Durban Tourism, community stakeholders, educational institutions, and other partners in making the initiative possible.

For Durban Tourism, the programme reinforces the City’s message that tourism is not only about attracting visitors from outside the City, but also about encouraging residents to explore their own communities, support local businesses, and become ambassadors for their City’s heritage and tourism offering.