'This is Knysna' campaign shines spotlight on locals

KNYSNA NEWS - Visit Knysna hosted a special meet-and-greet at the Turbine Hotel on Thursday 20 November to celebrate the people at the heart of its "This is Knysna" campaign.

The gathering brought together media, campaign participants and municipal representatives to recognise the residents whose efforts continue to shape Knysna as a standout tourism destination.

Welcoming attendees, the manager for Economic Development and Tourism, Lungiswa Goya, emphasised the importance of working together to elevate the area.

"Showcasing the best of Knysna is something we must do collectively," she said. "Our residents play a vital role - through their actions, passion and dedication - in shaping both our destination and the visitor experience. We deeply appreciate the contributions of private partners and look forward to building on these relationships."

The "This is Knysna" campaign is a digital storytelling initiative that highlights individuals whose positive actions have enhanced the greater Knysna area.

Six videos have been produced, each profiling a local changemaker whose efforts contribute to the town's appeal.

From creating new tourism experiences, establishing a nationally recognised farmers' market and developing art and mosaic routes, to beautifying public spaces, each contributor plays a meaningful part in enriching the visitor journey.

A report from social media monitoring company Sprout Social shows the campaign - launched at the beginning of September - has achieved impressive reach and engagement.

To date, it has generated more than 1 million impressions, 33 930 engagements, reached over 49 000 people, and resulted in 954 direct messages to Visit Knysna. Across all platforms, the videos have already surpassed one million total views.

The full series of videos can be viewed on Visit Knysna's Facebook page, Instagram (@visitknysna), and YouTube (visitknysna).

For more information about the campaign, please email info@visitknysna.co.za or contact Visit Knysna on 044 382 5510.

Welcoming attendees, the manager of Economic Development and Tourism, Lungiswa Goya, emphasised the importance of working together to elevate the area.