Coast KZN

* Let’s go explore
Southern Explorer is a dedicated brand destination marketing platform, shining alight on the paradise where we live. Led by the private sector, this initiative not only identifies our tourism products, but also focuses on our destinations’ unique selling points. When joining Southern Explorer KZN, your business qualifies for a membership package, giving you access to a bouquet of marketing opportunities.

The Summer Edition will also include a passport to paradise checklist containing over R50 000 worth of discounts and giveaways.

* Private sector must lead the way
The post Covid-19 tourist is going to be in search of wide spaces that offer clean, green and ecotourism friendly environments. On the KZN South Coast, we enjoy a powerful geographical position as the perfect paradise. The Southern Explorer brand intends to take ownership of the Ecommerce marketplace in KZN. Our intention is not just to continue with the creation of a well established marketing product we intend to use the platform as a base to market the KZN South Coast globally.

* Join our tourism revival strategy
The future of advertising, inspired by the old and led by the new – the show must go online.

1. Producing 20 000, high-end, gloss tabletop magazines annually, with a complete new look and feel aligning to our destination website. Publishing both a summer and winter edition.
2. Highly optimised online magazine, marketing our destination globally through SEO, Targeted & Google Ads.
3. QR Codes, the KZN South Coast’s first ‘no touch’ magazine placed strategically across South Africa and eventually globally.
4. The power of social media marketing cannot be denied. The game has changed, and we’re playing.

* Crucial that South Coast business operates as a collective
1. Positioning and marketing the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast as the Jewel of Africa for holiday destinations. Packaging inbound niche tours and identifying undiscovered and unique tourism products. Making meaningful change and embracing diversity. Something money can’t buy,
we care.
2. Get on the map. Align your brand with a strongly positioned and well established marketing product. With three and a half million Rands worth of Southern Explorer road signage, the brand is well entrenched and highly visible to all visitors.
3. Accessing new markets through strategic partnerships.
4. Connecting the South Coast with corporate sponsors who will assist in marketing our destination.

* Business that never sleeps
24-hour store front at your fingertips across the globe.
1. Transforming traditional brick and mortar stores into well known digital brands across the globe. Giving you back the physical presence that was stolen from you from Covid-19.
2. Statistics predict that up to 95 percent of all purchases will be conducted through E-commerce by 2040, meaning that if your business in not on the internet your business will be out of business.
3. From store capacities to curfews, products and services are harder to obtain than ever before. E-commerce isn’t the cherry on the cake, it is the cake.
4. Increase your reach and get in touch with new markets, they don’t have to be on holiday to shop with you.

South Coasters, young and old, are hoping the annual Sardine Run will hit our shores soon. Photo: Justin Klusener.

Get your copy of Southern Explorer’s latest winter edition Paradise Found.

Creative cloud formation over St Mike’s on a late autumn afternoon. Photo: Desmond Govender.