Now that we as South Africans have been granted a little more freedom of movement and the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be more under control, there is a sudden demand for mini-breaks over weekends, and even mid-week, and just a general desire to get away from it all for a while.
People are actively looking for break-away spots and many tend to want to return to places they are familiar with and have been to before. This is great news for our local traveller market, but unfortunately it looks as if international travel will be restricted until 2021. Peak season this year will therefore be highly competitive as establishments compete for our locals to book and for the present, remain in survival mode.
Fortunately, we have some great advice and tips on how to remedy the situation and stay ahead of the competition.
- Let people know that you are OPEN FOR BUSINESS and POST COVID READY AND SAFE
Place a notice on your website, your social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and send all your past visitors a personalised email inviting them back. Don’t forget about those who had to cancel due to the pandemic. Make sure that you include information regarding the safety of your guests and staff and set their minds at ease that their visit will be a safe and happy one. - Start PRO-ACTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ASAP
Updating your website and Facebook page is a great start, but take it one step further and do some actual advertising by boosting a Facebook post that has performed well in the past. Also, consider setting up and running a proper Facebook Advertising campaign to your target audience, track the performance and optimise as you go for better results. - Consider running a Google Ads CAMPAIGN
Running Google Ads efficiently is a great way of marketing directly to your target audience. You can choose your budget, track the performance of your ads and tweak these to improve the results of your campaign. It’s also a great solution if you are considering running any promotions or special offers for a short period of time. -
Run SPECIALS, PROMOTIONS, of PACKAGE DEALS
There are many upsides in running specials at the moment, but instead of just offering a discount, you might want to sweeten the deal a bit with some add-ons, like a welcome basket, local attraction tickets or meal vouchers. You could even put together a package that includes upgrades, add-ons or discounts. Offer them exclusively to previous guests to make them feel special. Make sure you are aware of what your competition is up to regarding this as you would want to offer something unique to your establishment.
Fortunately, we are experts in all of the above and will be able to help you every step of the way with your return to tourism. Should you have any queries or need any assistance we are just a phone call or email away, so do not hesitate to give us a shout!
Email: info@tourismmarketing.co.za
Contact: 021 556 3469