Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An, after posting a series of photos of the Muong Long cloud hunting season on her personal Facebook page and received very positive feedback from the public - especially the people in Nghe An.
It is very normal for an individual to post information and promote the image of local tourism on his personal page. However, it is not common for a leader to post promotional information on his personal page.
In Hue, leaders of the Department of Culture and Sports often have similar promotional articles about local culture and tourism, but on the department's fanpage, not the leader's personal page.
higher up, there is Mr. Phan Thien Dinh - Chairman of Ha Tinh Provincial People's Committee, former Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, who often uses personal Facebook with green records, but mostly to communicate information with direction and orientation to the people.
In fact, in many localities, tourism media has long relied mainly on legitimate campaigns through promotional videos, promotional programs, famtrip... So a department leader talking about the beauty of his homeland will suggest a new, more realistic and closer way of promotion.
From the perspective of building local image, the appearance of leaders as "experieners" on social networks instead of "civil servants" as usual will help information become softer and more reliable.
In addition, when the head of the tourism industry directly gives his/her image and feelings about a destination that is being oriented to develop according to an ecological - community model, it is also a message of responsibility. That is, leaders do not just sit in offices but actually go, observe, experience and introduce things that they believe can bring new livelihoods to the people.
For an area with many difficulties like Ky Son in Nghe An, each period of positive information spread can become a source of attracting visitors, bringing services, jobs and income to local people.
This is also a streamlined but effective way of communicating policies. Because a personal post sometimes has a strong influence.
However, to make this approach fully appreciated, there are also accompanying principles. It is impossible to let the promotion of destinations be mistaken for suggesting services or favoring a certain interest group.
On the other hand, personal communication of industry leaders must go with accurate information, avoid creating excessive expectations or making calls that destinations are not capable of meeting, leading to negative benefits, loss of individual leadership points, and damage to the image of the destination.
