West Coast Way Working Harder Than Ever To Support Tourism

In the challenging time that we are in, we are committed to supporting our West Coast Way clients in the best way that we can – by being passionate ambassadors for our area and transforming tourism opportunities into active business.

One thing that is clear: We can only survive this crisis if we work together.

West Coast As A Top 10 Destination

We have always expressed the goal that we would like to see the Cape West Coast on the top 10 list of places to visit in South Africa, joining other top destinations and attractions such as, Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Pretoria, Table Mountain, Knysna, Durban, Johannesburg, Paarl, Tsitsikamma National Park and Hermanus. We believe that this is possible, more than ever, with our wide-open spaces, nature and unique hospitality culture of ‘Weskus Beskus’.

West Coast Way is all about positioning our clients as the best of the best. The tourist/traveller experience is determined not by one stakeholder, but by a collective experience. A great flight followed by disappointing accommodation results in a bad review for the complete region. Which is why West Coast Way combines the best Cape West Coast brands and unpacks each small town and all the attractions, accommodation and activities in entertaining bits of information.

Focus On South Africans As #TourismStrong

The weakness of the rand may encourage international travel, but the big focus post-COVID19 is to stimulate leisure and business travel from South Africans. But whether your client is South African or from overseas, visible and ongoing COVID-19 safety measures – such as visible sanitization stations – will be imperative to stimulate positive reviews, confidence and trust.

How we plan to stimulate bookings to the West Coast

It is difficult for potential visitors to gauge if they will have money to travel, no one knows what the “landscape” will look like after this, but we do hope for, and anticipate, an era of renewed enthusiasm for local travel – with many South Africans already calling on each other to support local businesses. This, and money constraints, will translate into more people choosing a South African holiday over an international destination.

With this in mind, and in order to drive increased awareness and stimulate bookings for our clients, below is an overview of our planned campaign:

“Plan Now – Book Later”

The campaign will aim to entice people, to get them dreaming about their West Coast adventure post lockdown – with the overriding message being that they will get more for their money with a promotion that allows them to book 2 days and get an additional 1 day free – so in effect a 3 for 2 Deal which will be valid for 7 days a week from 1 May 2020 to 30 September.

Some Exciting Plan of Action Details For The Cape West Coast

Tourism businesses that have booked a meeting with specific brands for WTM Africa 2020 have been contacted and we are setting up virtual connection meetings!

We are connecting with independent travel agencies in Johannesburg that want to collaborate in order to create leisure, business, and sports travel packages.

Associations are key to getting through the crisis and we have reached out to:
• TBCSA (The Tourism Business Council of South Africa)
• Sustainable Tourism Partnership Programme
• SAACI South African Association for the Conference Industry
• Cape Town Tourism
• Wesgro
• SKAL Cape Town
• SATOUR

West Coast Way continues to promote the West Coast actively through the most important media channel, through social media, and by encouraging ‘virtual’ visits by sharing videos showcasing our wonderful region. Follow us on @westcoastwaysa and look for #tourismstrong and #weskusbeskus

In addition, we are supporting the West Coast with ‘I am #tourismstrong’ visuals, campaigning to not cancel trips, but rather postpone them:

Open Door Invitation To Media

We commit to continue to invite media to experience the region, to positively promote the West Coast, and actively convert South Africans into ambassadors for the Cape West Coast – now and post-lockdown. Support media that have a passion for tourism and travel by joining every Wednesday on twitter #TravelChatSA – The Hottest Chat about South Africa in South Africa. Don’t miss it: Wednesday’s from 7PM SAST(UTC+2). New Topic Every Week. Join Them! They focus on local travels because Local is Lekker. And this Wednesday the focus is the Cape West Coast!

Open Door To All Future Visitors

Follow us on social media @WestCoastWaySa on instagram, facebook and twitter and escape via virtual travel into the wide-open spaces, friendly faces and rich biodiversity of the Cape West Coast. Find all the best ideas now for your post-lockdown travels. Best of all: we are open 7 days a week. Contact us on 0861 321 777 or email [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature

West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.

Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way: Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve. For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777.  Follow us on  on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.