Website and Digital Update
Social Media Ahead of the summer and festive season, we have taken a more aggressive approach to marketing the KZN South Coast and creating more operator brand awareness campaigns. As the platforms are shared between tourism and investment, there has been a substantial increase in content production of 424 posts, resulting in a 110.9% increase from the previous period. This shows a strong commitment to consistently sharing information, updates, or engaging content with our audience. We have seen 118 333 impressions (up 22% from the previous period), 4 941 engagements (up 16.9%), 146 post-link clicks (up 151.7%), and a 4.2% engagement rate (per impression). Additionally, specific multimedia video clips were created and promoted across all the platforms exploring various topics. Website The corporate and investment websites were updated to reflect the new SCTIE Board Members, their names, details, and images for transparency. Other content changes were made consistently across the website and, to promote articles, we used backlinking and sharing the press release URLs on the related establishment’s social media platforms. This integrated approach increased exposure to attract potential investors. Push Notifications Our establishments received marketing push notifications highlighting our ‘Unlimited Opportunities for Investment’ and announcing the new Board Members. These notifications engaged establishments, inspiring them to share this messaging with their databases to highlight the investment and tourism possibilities on the KZN South Coast. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Our SEO services have proven highly effective in boosting website traffic and increasing interest in our online platforms. Through continuous SEO optimisation strategies, including creating engaging and relevant articles, we have witnessed a substantial progression in our digital footprint. These articles are carefully crafted to align with search engine algorithms and user intent, improving organic search rankings and visibility to increase website traffic. Explore the KZN South Coast app Our app undergoes daily updates through a single Content Management System (CMS) to ensure continuous growth, including the 88 changes from the website. This has revolutionised the visitor experience by engaging with new offerings on the KZN South Coast. It has a user-friendly interface that facilitates easy navigation, and provides up-to-date, information on popular attractions, accommodations, dining options, and local events. It also incorporates interactive maps and other innovative features such as interactive contact details which operate from almost all devices. Investment Prospectus We put together a detailed Investment Prospectus on the KZN South Coast identifying nearly 100 investment opportunities to attract investors at local, national, and global levels. Our research, which included over 200 respondents, provided accurate and comprehensive results which will be available under the ‘Media’ tab in the ‘Research‘ section soon. The opportunities spanned sectors like tourism, real estate, infrastructure, and renewable energy, backed by supporting case studies. The availability of pre-existing, successful case studies on the KZN South Coast played a pivotal role, offering evidence of successful investments and instilling confidence.
Advertising Update
This quarter, we have leveraged our digital platforms for advertising purposes, sharing our key catalytic projects and growth sectors across Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. This has proven both a cost-effective and impactful advertising strategy reaching our target market directly through digital media.
Marketing Update
Through stakeholder engagements, dedicated partnerships, and extensive marketing, we’re continuing to unearth the KZN South Coast’s investment potential. We are not only using our existing platforms, but developing new avenues to market catalytic projects and feature our growth sectors to potential investors. Marketing Campaigns This quarter we launched the overriding ‘Uncover Potential’ marketing message as we showcase the diverse investment opportunities on the KZN South Coast. Investment Awareness Campaign Our investment awareness marketing shares the ‘Uncover Potential’ messaging, encouraging our residents and businesses to promote the KZN South Coast’s investment potential. Our focal talking points have been catalytic projects, the Port Shepstone business hub, agriculture, renewable energy, the ocean economy, as well as the ongoing Buy Local campaign. Buy Local Campaign Update The Buy Local campaign, which is an integrated tourism and investment initiative, continues to attract new members while encouraging support for local businesses. Our tourism sector has seen a boost with the addition of Monate Outdoor Activities offering hiking, camping, and outdoor adventures; Kasified Eksperience, a township tourism organisation which focuses on shisanyama and events in Gamalakhe; as well as the exquisite private guesthouse, Villa Doré. We have created extensive marketing material around the Buy Local campaign, including an infographic and digital badges. The benefits to both businesses and consumers are immense, with the Buy Local membership free of charge until 30 June 2025. To find out more or sign up as a Buy Local member, simply click this link, use our online enquiry or contact Londiwe@sctie.co.za or 039 6827944. Investment Destination Video We have produced a new investment destination video for promotional purposes. Our 3- minute and 1- minute videos position the KZN South Coast as a premier investment, trade, and business destination. The videos capture the district’s key investment potential in sectors such as agribusiness, ocean economy, real estate, tourism, manufacturing and more. Investment Research The KZN Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) in collaboration with Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) and KZN Provincial Treasury presented the quarterly Ezomnotho publication. This provides in-depth insight into economic developments and is used by our investment and marketing teams to inform plans where necessary. EDTEA MEC Siboniso Duma noted that 54 000 jobs were created in KZN for Q1 and the third lowest level of unemployment. He says this shows a need for ‘policy priorities to focus on inclusive economic growth that promotes public and private sector investment in productive infrastructure, and engaging economic development partners and stakeholders to promote key trade and investment opportunities in a more targeted way’. KZN was the second-highest contributor to the country’s GDP after Gauteng, with finance, manufacturing, community services, and trade as the leading economic contributors. The highly diversified agricultural sector was highlighted, with KZN producing over 50% of all timber and a significant portion of sugar cane, both of which are found here. Our natural assets including scenic beauty, biodiversity, and cultural diversity were also noted as key for the tourism potential, which is set to grow further. Ugu District was one of the regions noted for its environmental impact assessment (EIA) approvals which are set to create further employment opportunities and unlock further potential within the region. In total KZN granted 24 EIAs with a capital value of R6.9 billion which are expected to create 2 991 jobs during the construction phase and 1 239 jobs during the operation phase. One Stop Shop (OSS) On 8 November, 4 of our staff members attended a workshop at the Trade & Investment KZN (TIKZN) offices in Durban. This included operational training on the CIPC Self-Service machine by the KZN OSS Administration Support Officer. The workshop also featured a presentation on how the One Stop Shop (OSS) operations and the mandate which is derived from the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC). This is to support investors in terms of: Improving the ease of doing business including support for land zoning, regulatory approvals, and issuing of permits. Reducing red tape associated with development applications. Provide project brokering services to catalytic projects. The Ugu OSS is implemented in partnership with TIKZN with the launch anticipated for 30 January 2023. This is the fourth OSS office to be launched under the leadership of MEC Duma, with the launch 100% funded by TIKZN. We are working with several partners on this including, the EDTEA, CIPC, ITHALA, Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), BPESA, and more who are extending their services for the OSS. The office is currently in operation virtually and physically.
Infrastructure Upgrade
The much-anticipated rehabilitation of Marine Drive (the P395), connecting Port Shepstone with Southbroom is underway. The R580-million project was launched by the Department of Transport in June with construction starting in September, anticipated to take around 30 months to complete. This will improve accessibility to Port Shepstone, our administrative, educational, distribution, commercial, and cultural centre, as well as enhancing the area’s significant investment potential.
New Board Members
We would like to welcome our new SCTIE Board Members to the team! Mr Sandile Dlomo, Ms Nongcebo Mckenzie, Mr Lunga Yeni, Dr Khululiwe Godlwana, and Mr Thokozani Sabela are the newly appointed members who are already planning site and project visits, with a strategic planning session outlined. They will work to fulfil functions within the Ugu Economic Recovery Framework: Strategy and Plan (2022-2032) and its specific economic targets to be met over a five and 10-year period.
Public Relations Update
The regular distribution of our investment-focused press releases to targeted business and investment media continues to gain traction, further exposing our potential to new markets. We are building important connections with new media through these engagements and are enjoying further opportunities for exposure such as an article set to feature in Africa Business Quarterly. Press releases issued 18 August 2023 – 14 November 2023 Port Shepstone Intermodal Facility increases accessibility and retail opportunities for this business hub – 22 August 2023 Local business boost as KZN South Coast’s Buy Local campaign gains momentum – 25 August 2023 KZN South Coast boasts investor potential in the renewable energy sector – 28 August 2023 KZN South Coast collective creates app to drive coffee growth and investment opportunities in agriculture – 12 September 2023 Rural Tourism Investment Opportunities on the Rise on KZN South Coast – 30 October 2023 Buy Local campaign continues to flourish on the KZN South Coast – 06 November 2023