Prospective visitors can now virtually tour Cape Town. The immersive experience stems from a partnership between a global leading destination marketing organisation (DMO) Cape Town Tourism (CTT) and virtual tours agency, Gecko Digital Global.
Leigh Dawber, CMO of Cape Town Tourism, says the destination marketing company is always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire potential travellers to choose Cape Town. “With the influence of immersive digital experiences, research shows that 70% of people who view a virtual tour online link through to a direct booking opportunity. Tourism bookings can be extrapolated into tourism expenditure and job opportunities in Cape Town, which is Cape Town Tourism’s ultimate goal.”
The partnership between the two organisations is built on shared objectives and value exchange and lays the foundation for a long-term relationship with an emphasis on innovation and collaboration. It demonstrates how strategic partnerships can leverage technology to explore new ways to promote CTT’s member product to increase bookings and enrich the travel experience.
Jacques Clarijs, the South African partner from Gecko Digital Global, says the company has noticed a global trend that 35% of people who view a virtual tour end up making a direct booking with the client on their own booking engine. The typical return on investment for a virtual tour is 14-30 days, the highest of any marketing media and trackable through Google Analytics.
Clarijs added: “With a passion for immersive technologies, Gecko Digital Global’s cutting-edge virtual reality aims to transport travellers on unforgettable journeys from the comfort of their homes. By leveraging state-of-the-art VR advancements, tourists can embark on captivating virtual tours and immerse themselves in the Greatest City on Earth, from walking on its beaches and witnessing its mountains, to visiting the vineyards in the Winelands.”
The virtual tour builds on CTT’s existing digital credentials, pioneering an award-winning digitally immersive campaign last year.
“We saw the impact of the Find Your Freedom campaign from exploring the digital space, and the addition of VR furthers the traction of future enhancements to the campaign,” said Dawber. “Particularly in the United States, which is Cape Town’s number-three source market and the top spenders, the virtual experience is proven to build trust that their travel experience will match or exceed their expectations, and therefore a higher booking rate.”
She noted that the advent of ‘Destination VR Hospitality’ marked a paradigm shift in the travel industry, offering an accessible, sustainable, and immersive alternative for globetrotters yearning to explore the world.
The VR experience is available on the Cape Town Tourism website, which can be accessed at www.capetown.travel.
