A new digital platform designed to help visitors discover Whitstable has launched online, inviting local businesses and organisations to take part. Discover Whitstable aims to become the most comprehensive, curated and authentic source of tourism information about the town, helping people planning a trip to the Kent coast explore Whitstable and make the most of their visit.
Whitstable attracts an estimated 1 to 1.6 million visitors each year, many from London and the South East. The platform shares curated information about the town — its coastal setting, culture and experiences — alongside guides to what to do, where to eat, stay, shop and explore, while helping local businesses connect with the visitors who come to enjoy the town each year.
Whitstable attracts large numbers of visitors each year, particularly from London and the South East. Yet many arrive with limited information about the breadth of experiences the town offers beyond the seafront.
Discover Whitstable was created to help bridge that gap by bringing together practical visitor information, local storytelling and curated recommendations in one place. The platform helps visitors discover more of Whitstable - from its harbour and town centre to its restaurants, cultural venues, coastal walks and local experiences.
Businesses and organisations across Whitstable can be included on the platform, from shops and cafés to restaurants, accommodation providers, galleries, experiences, transport providers and other services that contribute to the visitor experience.
Many businesses are already listed as part of the platform’s effort to provide a comprehensive overview of the town. Businesses that choose to subscribe can benefit from enhanced visibility through expanded profiles, photography, links to their own websites or social media channels, and inclusion in curated content and the regularly updated calendar of events designed to help visitors discover what is happening during their stay.
For many businesses that already have their own online presence, the value lies in being part of a single platform dedicated entirely to Whitstable - a place where visitors unfamiliar with the town can discover everything it offers in one place rather than searching across multiple websites.
Clotilde, founder of Discover Whitstable said:
Whitstable attracts an extraordinary number of visitors each year, but many only experience a small part of what the town has to offer.
Our ambition is to help visitors discover more of Whitstable, stay longer and visit throughout the year. By doing so we can help create more consistent demand for local businesses while easing some of the pressure that peak-season tourism can place on residents.
We also want to encourage more sustainable travel to the coast, particularly by train, which makes Whitstable easily accessible from London and across the South East.
What’s next for Discover Whitstable?
While the website is the first step, Discover Whitstable is designed as a wider initiative to help visitors explore the town.
Future projects being considered include a printed pocket visitor guide and curated discovery trails encouraging visitors to explore different parts of Whitstable and uncover more of its businesses, heritage and coastal character.
Businesses interested in increasing their visibility with visitors planning a trip to Whitstable are invited to get in touch to learn more about being featured on the platform.
Discover Whitstable was founded by Clotilde, a business transformation consultant and founder of Canterbury Road Consultants. With close to three decades of consulting experience focused on customer experience and business transformation for growth, she has helped corporate and government organisations better understand and connect with their audiences.
After moving to Whitstable, she noticed that visitors often struggled to find comprehensive and easily accessible information to help them plan their visit and discover everything the town offers. This gap meant many people experienced only a small part of Whitstable - representing a missed opportunity for the town’s many local businesses.
For businesses - most of them independent - navigating the peaks and troughs of tourism has also become increasingly challenging, particularly as financial pressures on small businesses have increased and tourism support funding has declined in recent years.
Drawing on her professional expertise and motivated by a love for the town she now calls home, Clotilde created DiscoverWhitstable.co.uk to help visitors discover more of Whitstable while strengthening the connection between the town’s businesses, its community and the people who come to enjoy it.
CONTACT DETAILS
Name: Clotilde Chohan
Business Name: Discover Whitstable
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.discoverwhitstable.co.uk
Instagram: @discoverwhitstable
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