The Da Nang tourism industry has effectively adjusted tourism promotion and communications in line with the COVID situation in the city, thus adapting itself to the new normal. 

The Da Nang tourism industry will continue to promote the city’s tourism images through previously created videos. Here is an image from the clip ‘Da Nang miss you’ made by the municipal Tourism Promotion Centre in December 2020. Photo: THU HA

According to Ms. Huynh Thi Huong Lan, the Deputy Director of the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre, due to the impact of COVID-19, the tourism industry has rebuilt its tourism promotion and communications plans from May to December, divided into different implementation stages.

In the first stage, from May 1 to June 15, when the COVID-19 Da Nang is yet to be controlled completely, the Da Nang tourism industry will focus on providing the latest updates on the virus’ developments and preventive measures on the centre’s website and fanpage.

At the same time, heed will be paid to investigating trends and changes in domestic tourists' psychology due to the impact of the virus resurgence in a bid to build attractive new tourism products, conduct promotion campaigns and stimulate domestic travel demand.

In particular, from May to September, importance will be attached to implementing strategies to develop the central regional brand under the multi-destination model featuring tourism cooperation amongst Da Nang, Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Nam during the 2021 - 2025 period, with a vision towards 2030.

Interestingly, small-scale games reminiscent of Da Nang will come on stream such as the top 10 must-dos in Da Nang once the COVID-19 resurgence is over, crosswords and  jigsaw puzzles.

In the second stage, when the current COVID-19 is put under control, expected from June 15 to July 15, the local tourism industry will strengthen communications activities via different channels and promote Da Nang’s image as a safe travel destination through previously-created videos.

It is expected that in June, the local tourism industry will coordinate with the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Viet Nam in France, the Viet Nam Businesses’ Association in France and Qatar Airways to organise a virtual seminar introducing tourism features of Da Nang, and Central Viet Nam at large, to the European market. July is slated to see the organisation of a webinar with representatives from companies specialising in organising Chinese charter flights to Da Nang.

At the same time, Da Nang’s functional bodies will collaborate with celebrities   specializing in cuisine to create an online cooking series targeting Da Nang's signature dishes in the form of livestream.

It is expected that, in August, VR360 virtual reality technology will be launched at Da Nang’s tourist destinations. Besides, heed will be paid to widely promoting Da Nang’s night-time tourism activities.

In the third stage, when the city returns to normal operations and tourism is on way to rebound, expected from July 15 to December 31, focus will be on launching tourism services and products to tempt visitors back.

Remarkably, the ‘Da Nang - Always Ready’ programme will feature videos made in the second stage, promote articles, photo collections and, short clips on the readiness of the Da Nang tourism industry in welcoming visitors back, along with a wide range of travel stimulus programmes and events scheduled to be held across the city.

In parallel, plans will be drawn up to welcome more M.I.C.E., famtrip and presstrip delegations, and continue to conduct surveys and assess the psychological behaviour of domestic tourists and those hailing from key international markets such as Japan, South Korea and China towards Da Nang’s tourism environment.

The local tourism industry will cooperate with the Tourism Development Promotion Fund, tourism associations, airlines, tourism businesses, including hotels, travel agencies, transport service providers and tourist attractions to synchronise communications plans about Da Nang.

Along with the aforementioned communications plans, after the current COVID-19 wave is completely controlled, Da Nang will concentrate on promoting its tourism in domestic market such as Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Tri, Quang Binh and Thua Thien-Hue and other destinations which have direct flights to Da Nang such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho and Dak Lak.

Da Nang will also eye on effectively tap high-quality tourism market segments such as beach –leisure, golf, M.I.C.E tourism, and take measures to attract more tourists from Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Hai Phong, the Central Highlands and the southwestern region.

As for the international market, depending on COVID-19 developments, the priority will given to gradually restoring international markets that have controlled the pandemic and have a high vaccination completion rate.

Reporting by THU HA- Translating by A.T