Talking Maps, an interactive map that verbally explains top tourist destinations in South Africa, will launch at Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban this year.
Talking Maps, currently available for Tshwane, links old world maps and new world online technology information on one travel platform. The map takes users on a narrative tour, providing all the need-to-know points about the top attractions and activities in a geographical travel destination, making information easily accessible for travellers and tour operators alike.
Talking Maps uses innovation to bring new life to destination marketing on one campaign platform. CEO of Dinokeng JunXion and Owner of Talking Maps, Alan Roxton Wiggill, says this map will change the way the industry markets tourist destinations by delivering information from a printed map which is directly linked to a full online information and transaction platform for each destination. He says there are very few online information and transaction sites which focus on activities as Talking Maps does.
An added benefit, according to Wiggill, is that Talking Maps will offer multiple languages, by making use of the ‘talking pen’ device which is activated by touching points marked by drop pins on the coded printed maps. The Tshwane map already offers English and Afrikaans, with future maps expected to have up to eight languages. “For South African travel companies this is important as guides, shuttle services, car-hire companies, concierges and other ground handlers can now offer their foreign clients information they want in their home language.”
More destinations are being added to Talking Maps, with a focus on well established tourist attractions.
The cost of the map is R1200 (€79) and can be purchased from the Talking Maps website which is set to go live at Africa’s Travel Indaba. This buys a coded map and a Talking pen pack, which can then be used to have stories narrated from the map/pen.
Wiggill says there is also a digital version of the map which will be available on the soon-to-launch website and can be downloaded onto any device at a cost of R50 (€3,30), however this only provides the map and does not include narration as of yet.
Talking Maps can be viewed and demonstrated at stand ICC28 7/8/9/10 at Africa’s Travel Indaba taking place next week.
