Nghe An tourism strives for digital transformation

Flexible digital transformation

On the occasion of the April 30 and May 1 holidays, Lan Chau Eco-tourism Complex (Cua Lo Town) will officially come into operation after nearly 2 years of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to advertising on media channels, the unit is also promoting digital applications in introducing tours, routes and services of the unit on the official website and strengthening links with travel companies, online hotel booking websites of Vietnamese and the world.

Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Ha - General Director of Song Ngu Son Company said: Reality also shows that after promoting the application of smart tourism, more tourists come to our company.

Promoting Lan Chau Island tourist complex on the internet. Photo: MH

Nearly 2 weeks before the holiday, most hotels in the first line and many hotels in the second and third lines in Cua Lo town were fully booked, showing that the restart of tourism in the coastal town has brought very positive signs. The survey also showed that over 80% of tourists are currently booking rooms through smart applications on online websites.

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc - Vice Chairman of Cua Lo Town People's Committee added: Digital transformation helps tourism businesses adapt flexibly to market changes and suit the current epidemic context.

As for Cua Lo town, in addition to implementing activities to open the tourist season, the town has also promoted propaganda through digital technology platforms via the town's website, through press and media agencies and signed a memorandum of understanding to promote Nghe An tourism through videos with the Tik Tok application to attract young customers. We are also working with Viettel to build smart tourism with 4 platforms, including state management of tourism.

Tourists explore Thanh Chuong tea island. Photo: MH

In Hoang Mai town, Mr. Nguyen Van Binh - Head of the town's Department of Culture and Information said: Hoang Mai has all the elements to develop spiritual tourism, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, sea tourism, craft village tourism... However, to make tourists aware of these advantages, we must promote the application of digital technology for promotion and propaganda. Currently, the town has developed a plan to deploy a smart urban model and digital transformation for the period 2021 - 2025. This includes promoting the application of information technology and the achievements of the 4.0 technology revolution to create a breakthrough, change the management, direction and operation methods in the tourism industry and create an environment to provide smart services, with positive interactions to attract more and more tourists.

Challenges and opportunities

Digital transformation is a major policy of the Party and State to prioritize the development of digital tourism and smart tourism. Along with tourism nationwide, Nghe An Department of Tourism has carried out communication and promotion of Nghe An tourism on social networking platforms (creating video clips to promote tourism, updating information on Nghe An tourism Facebook page (visitnghean), effectively using LED screens to promote tourism at Vinh International Airport and Vinh Railway Station)... Smart tourism applications through the Smart Tourism Electronic Information Portal platform and tourism applications on mobile devices. The Department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to launch and put into use the Nghe An Province Smart Tourism Information Portal (visitnghean.com).

Exhibition room at Nghe An Museum. Photo: MH

To realize the goals to be achieved in the process of applying digital transformation to the tourism sector, Nghe An Department of Tourism issued Resolution No. 178-NQ/CB dated March 16, 2022 on promoting digital transformation in the tourism sector of Nghe An province; issued Plan No. 239/KH-SDL dated February 25, 2022 on implementing digital transformation and applying information technology in 2022.

In particular, the key objectives are to develop digital infrastructure, digital databases, and develop multiple applications on digital platforms; link the digital transformation process with administrative reform to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of state management and the quality of public service provision of the Department; strive to implement extensive digital transformation throughout the industry by 2030, contributing to promoting socio-economic development and ensuring national defense and security.

In the cultural sector, digital transformation is also being actively implemented by many localities and units to both preserve, maintain, search, and access well and contribute to introducing and promoting on smart applications on digital platforms. Currently, according to statistics from the Department of Culture and Sports, from 2017 to now, the Department has directed the digitization of over 70,500 pages of documents related to relics in the area. In 2021 alone, the Monument Management Board is directed to deploy the digital transformation of relics on a digital technology platform and it is expected that by 2023, ranked relics will be digitized and introduced and promoted in cyberspace.

Cua Lo beach town is crowded during the 2022 tourist season. Photo: Cong Khang

Change and adaptation have also shown that digital transformation in the field of culture and tourism is an inevitable trend and with just a "touch", tourists can easily experience smart tourism and culture.

Touch screen application in the exhibition area at Kim Lien relic site helps visitors easily access documents. Photo: MH

However, in the context of the 4.0 technology revolution that is constantly changing and developing, this work must also be innovated and improved regularly. In other words, digital transformation is bringing advantages, opening up many opportunities but also a big challenge. And without proper investment, with a long-term and broad vision, it is easy to fall behind and find it difficult to keep up with trends and movements./.