What would a backpack trip to Paris be like?
Could you do a budget holiday to Dubai?
What about a bling trip of Bogotá?
Could you do a budget holiday to Dubai?
What about a bling trip of Bogotá?
BACKPACK, BUDGET or BLING is an immersive tourism marketing concept for destination marketing organisations, travel companies and tour operators that brings travel planning to life in an exciting and relatable way. Destinations as discovered by exploring the same destination on vastly different budgets.
Travellers exploring new destinations to travel to will be able to experience the ultimate side-by-side adventure, from shoestring simplicity to luxurious indulgence through 360 WalkThru videos. See below for an explanation and example of a 360 WalkThru video.
Platypus Digital provides a turnkey service which includes 360VR filming, post-production, interactive virtual reality tours and maps, 360 WalkThru's and 360 VR Portals.
Travellers exploring new destinations to travel to will be able to experience the ultimate side-by-side adventure, from shoestring simplicity to luxurious indulgence through 360 WalkThru videos. See below for an explanation and example of a 360 WalkThru video.
Platypus Digital provides a turnkey service which includes 360VR filming, post-production, interactive virtual reality tours and maps, 360 WalkThru's and 360 VR Portals.
TRAVELLER PROFILES:
Backpacker: Travels light, embraces hostels, street food and local buses, seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Budget Explorer: Balances affordability and comfort, choosing guesthouses, casual dining and a mix of public transport and guided tours.
Bling Traveller: Lives the high life, staying in luxury resorts, dining at top restaurants and enjoying private transfers and exclusive experiences.
Each leg of the journey - transport, accommodation, meals and activities will be captured and compared through 360 WalkThru videos. This immersive format invites potential tourists to step into each traveler’s shoes and ‘feel' the journey firsthand and give them more confidence in their travel choices.
Backpacker: Travels light, embraces hostels, street food and local buses, seeking authentic, off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Budget Explorer: Balances affordability and comfort, choosing guesthouses, casual dining and a mix of public transport and guided tours.
Bling Traveller: Lives the high life, staying in luxury resorts, dining at top restaurants and enjoying private transfers and exclusive experiences.
Each leg of the journey - transport, accommodation, meals and activities will be captured and compared through 360 WalkThru videos. This immersive format invites potential tourists to step into each traveler’s shoes and ‘feel' the journey firsthand and give them more confidence in their travel choices.
How Backpack, Budget or Bling Unlocks a Destination’s Culinary World
One Destination, Three Culinary Perspectives - Gastronomy travel is no longer just about fine dining - it’s about discovering a destination through all its flavours. Backpack, Budget or Bling perfectly captures this trend by showcasing how the same destination can be tasted and experienced at every price point, allowing travellers to choose the culinary journey that suits their appetite and budget.
Backpack - Street Food & Local Classics
The Backpacker dives into the heart of local food culture: street stalls, food markets, bakeries and family-run eateries. Viewers experience authentic, everyday meals enjoyed by locals, learning about ingredients, traditions and the stories behind iconic dishes - all at an affordable price.
Budget - Comfort, Variety & Value
The Budget traveler explores casual restaurants, bistros, food halls and popular local favourites. This perspective highlights where visitors can enjoy high-quality, authentic cuisine with good service and atmosphere, without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for travellers seeking balance between cost, comfort and culinary discovery.
Bling – Fine Dining & Exclusive Experiences
The Bling traveler showcases the destination’s premium food scene: fine-dining restaurants, chef’s tables, wine pairings, rooftop venues and private tastings. This reveals how local ingredients and traditional flavours are elevated into world-class culinary experiences.
Backpack - Street Food & Local Classics
The Backpacker dives into the heart of local food culture: street stalls, food markets, bakeries and family-run eateries. Viewers experience authentic, everyday meals enjoyed by locals, learning about ingredients, traditions and the stories behind iconic dishes - all at an affordable price.
Budget - Comfort, Variety & Value
The Budget traveler explores casual restaurants, bistros, food halls and popular local favourites. This perspective highlights where visitors can enjoy high-quality, authentic cuisine with good service and atmosphere, without breaking the bank. It’s ideal for travellers seeking balance between cost, comfort and culinary discovery.
Bling – Fine Dining & Exclusive Experiences
The Bling traveler showcases the destination’s premium food scene: fine-dining restaurants, chef’s tables, wine pairings, rooftop venues and private tastings. This reveals how local ingredients and traditional flavours are elevated into world-class culinary experiences.
Democratising Destination Sales for the Travel Trade
Levelling the Playing Field for Travel Agents - A key strength of Backpack, Budget or Bling is how it democratises destination marketing, ensuring that all travel agents - regardless of size - can benefit equally.
Traditionally, large global agencies benefit from exclusive content, high production budgets and preferred supplier relationships. This innovative marketing concept changes that by providing:
Whether it’s:
Making Selling Easier, Faster and More Inclusive. Every agent can confidently sell the destination using the same compelling content.
The content allows agents to:
Benefits to Destination Marketing Organisations
How can Destination Marketing Companies get started?
For a destination to get started, we’d recommend creating 45 x 360 WalkThru Videos which is broken down as follows for each option, viz, Backpack, Budget or Bling:
How are the 360 WalkThru videos used?
What are the costs?
Traditionally, large global agencies benefit from exclusive content, high production budgets and preferred supplier relationships. This innovative marketing concept changes that by providing:
- High-quality, destination-owned content that any agent can use
- Clear storytelling across different price points
- Ready-made visual tools that simplify the sales conversation
Whether it’s:
- A one-person home-based travel consultant
- A regional independent agency
- Or a multinational travel brand
Making Selling Easier, Faster and More Inclusive. Every agent can confidently sell the destination using the same compelling content.
The content allows agents to:
- Show clients exactly what they get at different budgets
- Match experiences to client expectations in minutes
- Serve first-time travellers, budget-conscious clients and luxury seekers with equal confidence
- Instead of “selling a destination,” agents are helping clients choose their version of the destination.
Benefits to Destination Marketing Organisations
- A future-focused content library (VR, video, social and trade-ready assets)
- Stronger alignment with both tourism businesses and travel agents
- Increased destination accessibility and inclusivity
- Greater conversion from inspiration to booking
- Long-term reusable content for trade shows, expos, websites and campaigns
- Importantly, the content supports local tourism ecosystems - from street food vendors and guesthouses to boutique hotels and luxury operators - ensuring broad economic impact.
How can Destination Marketing Companies get started?
For a destination to get started, we’d recommend creating 45 x 360 WalkThru Videos which is broken down as follows for each option, viz, Backpack, Budget or Bling:
- 6 x Accommodation Options - 18 in total
- 6 x Meal / Restaurant Options - 18 in total
- 3 x Activity Options - 9 in total
How are the 360 WalkThru videos used?
- All the participants will be given a digital copy of their 360 WalkThru video to use for marketing and promotions.
- The DMO / DMC will be provided with a digital copy of all the 360 WalkThru video's.
- All the 360 WalkThru video's will be uploaded to the Backpack, Budget or Bling YouTube Channel.
- All the 360 WalkThru video's will be included on the Backpack, Budget or Bling website which will include a map search function.
- The 360 WalkThru video's can be screened inside a SUPER REALITY DOME at a TRAVEL360 EXPO.
What are the costs?
- The 45 x 360 WalkThru videos will all be filmed on a 10-day shoot to a destination.
- The cost for each participant would be R 5 500 (ex VAT).
- For international destinations the cost would be R 6 000 (US$ 375) per participant.
- Additional 3 - 4 day shoots will de done in destinations to add 15 x 360 WalkThru videos to a destination per shoot.
WHAT IS A 360 WALKTHRU?
A representative from a destination, resort, restaurant or activity does a walk through holding a 360VR camera on a selfie stick in front of them.
When the video is viewed, the selfie stick becomes invisible and it feels as if the camera is floating in front of the person doing the walk through.
While viewing you can ‘look around’ the full 360 video as if you were doing the walking through.
The walk through can just have a music soundtrack or it can include a voice over to make it more personal.
Click HERE to view an example of a 360 WalkThru of one of the exclusive Villas at Cheetah Plains in Sabi Sand.
The video is hosted on YouTube so it's easy to share and to view on multiple device and platforms. If viewing on your smartphone move your smarphone around to view or use your finger on your screen to scroll around. If viewing on a laptop or desktop, click and drag your mouse to video the full 360VR video.
A representative from a destination, resort, restaurant or activity does a walk through holding a 360VR camera on a selfie stick in front of them.
When the video is viewed, the selfie stick becomes invisible and it feels as if the camera is floating in front of the person doing the walk through.
While viewing you can ‘look around’ the full 360 video as if you were doing the walking through.
The walk through can just have a music soundtrack or it can include a voice over to make it more personal.
Click HERE to view an example of a 360 WalkThru of one of the exclusive Villas at Cheetah Plains in Sabi Sand.
The video is hosted on YouTube so it's easy to share and to view on multiple device and platforms. If viewing on your smartphone move your smarphone around to view or use your finger on your screen to scroll around. If viewing on a laptop or desktop, click and drag your mouse to video the full 360VR video.
REFRAMING 360VR VIDEO
One of the great features of shooting 360VR video is that you can reframe it and export it as a standard 'non-360VR' video. I did this with the same Cheetah Plains video which you can view HERE.
One of the great features of shooting 360VR video is that you can reframe it and export it as a standard 'non-360VR' video. I did this with the same Cheetah Plains video which you can view HERE.
WHAT IS A 360VR PORTAL?
By scanning a QR Code a person interested in a destination or resort can unlock a 360VR photo on their smartphone and be virtually transported to the destination or resort as if they are physically there. They can move their smartphone to look around or use their finger on the screen and scroll around.
Multiple QR Codes can be created to showcase a destination of resort and the QR Codes can be included on all marketing material.
Try out the two QR Codes below by scanning them with your smartphone.
By scanning a QR Code a person interested in a destination or resort can unlock a 360VR photo on their smartphone and be virtually transported to the destination or resort as if they are physically there. They can move their smartphone to look around or use their finger on the screen and scroll around.
Multiple QR Codes can be created to showcase a destination of resort and the QR Codes can be included on all marketing material.
Try out the two QR Codes below by scanning them with your smartphone.
CREATE ONCE - USE MANY TIMES
Immersive virtual reality content is one of the most powerful tools for tourism marketing and should be part of every destination marketing organisations toolkit. The content is device agnostic and can be viewed as a shared experience inside a SUPER REALITY DOME, immersively (VR headsets), semi-immersively (phones, tablets & Smart TVs), or interactively (desktop/mobile apps & browsers).
It can be viewed across many different platforms and devices and can be easily embedded into websites and shared via newsletters, blogs and social media. The 360VR content can be hosted on a cloud based server for anyone to access and download.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley Edwards
Director - Platypus Digital
Mobile: +27 82 458 3356
Email: [email protected]
It can be viewed across many different platforms and devices and can be easily embedded into websites and shared via newsletters, blogs and social media. The 360VR content can be hosted on a cloud based server for anyone to access and download.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley Edwards
Director - Platypus Digital
Mobile: +27 82 458 3356
Email: [email protected]
