The digitalisation of tourism in the post-Covid_19 phase

Rediscovering the villages and small city centers of characteristic national identity has, since 2020, been a choice considered by the majority of visitors, forced by economic, geo-political and travel limitations.

This option should not be underestimated compared to the choice of more well-known international tourist destinations, especially long-haul ones.

Currently, the importance of enhancing the local territory, not only abroad and with an eco-sustainable vision, remains a prerogative of success for the stability of the tourism sector, with a view to economic regrowth.

While during 2018-2019, two years before the spread of Covid_19, the tourism sector focused on the marketing and promotion of its products, from 2020 the need to speed up all processes for their presentation and sale via E-commerce becomes predominant, social media and web marketing.

The introduction of smart-working in all professional sectors improves digitalisation and communication via computers, smartphones, social networks and websites, finally also in Italy.

A positive outcome to deal with the negative consequences that the Coronavirus pandemic has brought about, adapting our nation to the required European levels, especially from a technological point of view and not just the variety of the offer or the quantity and quality of the products.

Therefore, an effective 360° promotion on national and international territory would not be possible without the tourist offer being ready for a new type of communication in an interactive and innovative way, through, for example, the increasingly massive use of fast applications, business chats, automatic newsletters and updated websites.

Italy, together with the rest of Europe, must continue to progress, staying up to date with the sudden and significant changes to which society must respond. Returning to the past would therefore be counterproductive, it is better to prepare for a more positive vision of the future.