A new non-profit campaign is aiming to help smaller businesses in the tourism industry across South Africa stay relevant through the lockdown by establishing a virtual presence.
#VirtualTravelSA is an open campaign meaning that anyone on social media can join the campaign by using the hashtag. “The idea is to keep showing those beautiful places, small accommodations, activities in South Africa and that we have so much to look forward to when we can travel again,” said campaign co-founder Patrycja Oosthuizen of Travel Opulent Box.
In addition to using the hashtag to showcase South Africa’s tourist attractions – the campaign has also started a series of #TravelChatSA topics which are discussed weekly on Twitter. This week’s topic was the West Coast and was co-hosted by Weskus Tourism.
The Diversity of The #Weskus is Immense!! And So Beautiful! #Nature and People...We Also Celebrating #Earthday Today...#VirtualTravelSA #VirtualTravelWestCoast We of course ❤?????all bits!! https://t.co/EhOEvbD6eR pic.twitter.com/JUpZfXmqqD
— Weskus Tourism (@WeskusTourism) April 22, 2020
“The campaign aims to encourage small businesses in the tourism industry to keep going, to stand together, to show togetherness in these challenging times and optimism that what we are going through will only make us stronger and we will survive this,” said Oosthuizen.
She adds that people in the tourism industry should use this campaign as an opportunity to use all the pictures stores in the galleries. “The idea is for businesses to join as their pages so that it is the business subtly ‘putting up their hands’ to say “come stay with us, come do our activity, come experience our area.””
According to photographer and Social Media Manager, Riaan Jordaan, the campaign is especially relevant to small businesses who may not necessarily have the budget to market their products on this scale.
“All indications are that future travellers will be looking for breakaways to less crowded spaces, places and experiences once we can travel again - We hope to fulfil that need for future travellers,” said Jordaan.
