Tourism Revolution: New Maps and Old Stamps in Ha Giang!

Tourism Revolution: New Maps and Old Stamps in Ha Giang!

Vietnam is facing significant changes in the tourism sector, particularly in terms of management and corresponding geographical identities. The buckwheat flower fields in Ha Giang are a tourist highlight that is increasingly becoming the focus of international travelers. A recent merger between Hai Duong and Hai Phong could open up new tour options to various attractions, enhancing offerings and promoting regional connectivity. However, this poses challenges for the industry as changes in management bring new geographical maps, names and identification of destinations.

The administrative adjustments occasionally lead to confusion among international tourists. Name changes could impact destination marketing as many places have developed strong, highly recognizable tourism brands that are closely linked to their previous administrative names. Therefore, it is essential to develop a communication system that takes into account the new administrative boundaries as well as the old brand images. At the same time, travel companies need to be able to quickly grasp the changes and adapt their tours accordingly.

Promoting cultural identity

A key challenge is maintaining cultural identity during the merger process. Especially in regions like Ha Giang, where ethnic minorities play a significant role, it is important to emphasize these cultural elements in both tourism offerings and advertising. According to experts, the ecologically, culturally and historically diverse region can become a strength through proper planning, while retaining the name “Ha Giang” in tourism products should contribute to continuity.

In order to address the shortage of skilled workers, retraining of tourism employees is necessary. This is directly related to digital transformation, which also offers an answer to the changing conditions in institutions of cultural memory. A publication on this topic by Berndt Dugall, published in 2019, addresses digital transformation and its impact on various areas, including tourism.

Technological developments as the key to success

The use of digital technologies plays a crucial role in modern tourism. Online maps, interactive videos, virtual reality (VR) and booking platforms are indispensable tools for marketing tourism offers and securing a competitive advantage. Promotional campaigns should emphasize new tours and destination clusters to stimulate traveler interest and sustainably promote tourism in the region.

Another aspect is the need to issue new tourism cards and to actively participate in international trade fairs. Municipalities are required to provide consistent information and images on digital platforms to promote destination awareness and increase visitor engagement. Careful preparation and coordination between media agencies and the tourism industry are also crucial in order to make the new developments globally visible.

Overall, Vietnam faces the challenge of adapting its tourism sector to new realities while preserving the cultural identity and uniqueness of destinations. Initial approaches to developing innovative and sustainable tourism models appear promising, with intelligent agricultural tourism and green tourism being seen as promising trends. Further information on these topics is available Vietnam.vn.

For those interested in digitalization in the tourism sector, Berndt Dugall's study, published in the magazine ABI Technik, offers deeper insights. The publication was published in Berlin by Simon Verlag für Bibliothekswissen and offers comprehensive information on digital transformation in institutions of cultural memory on 243 pages. It is under the DOI 10.1515/abitech-2020-1016 accessible.