App and blog to boost Bay tourism

FORGET bulky and often outdated tourist information packs – now all the information you need about Nelson Mandela Bay attractions is available at the click of a button on your cellphone.

Information about the Donkin Reserve, the Campanile, Route 67 and all of the Friendly City's other tourist attractions is now accessible on your cellphone, thanks to the recent launch of Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism's (NMBT) Travel Guide mobile app.

The app, which was launched at the Tourism Indaba in Durban two weeks ago and went live last week, gives users information on the city's main attractions, accommodation, restaurants and events.

It is part of a bigger three-year strategic plan by NMBT to boost tourism in the city by delving into the online and social media space.

Bay tourism boss Mandlakazi Skefile said a blog was also launched earlier this month as part of the strategy.

"This travel app is a great thing for the city," she said. "Now when tourists are in the city they have a tour guide in their pocket, providing them with information as they walk through the city.

"To sell the city, it is imperative that we keep up with global trends. If we want to compete with the world, we have to bring our world to visitors," she said.

Developer Erenei Louw said the app was Bay Tourism's attempt to keep abreast with global trends after statistics showed smartphone usage had grown by a third.

"The app has various attractions and facilities listed. If activated, once you get into [the] radius of a specific attraction an audio guide is activated telling you about the attraction.

"From the app you can also share a postcard or photos of the attractions via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter – further boosting awareness of the Bay," he said.

Users can download the free NMBT travel guide app onto their cellphones directly from their device's app stores – Android market or Apple App Store.

Business has also not been forgotten and is given a choice of two versions of the app, costing R600 and R2500 a year each.

The first option includes a listing on the NMBT Travel Guide, with a 200-word description, four photos of the business and its contact details. The second option provides all of the options as above with the addition of a branded advert.

View the blog at .