Good practice:

New ways of tourism product development during pandemic - CCT based on CCIs for SME competitiveness

One of the sectors which suffers the most during the coronavirus period is tourism. This is the reason why the Municipality of Pécs has launched the # PécsNiytva (#PécsisOpen) campaign. Goal: to mobilize SMEs active in local tourism, to support SME Competitiveness, to develop package deals and safe programs for the visitors.
Cooperation between the Municipality and the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry resulted that more than 90 SMEs (including CCIs too) has been involved to the action.
The campaign focused on the presentation, revitalization, active involvement and experience-oriented programs of gastronomy, hospitality, cultural and creative industry.
CCT programs included light painting on Museum Street, concerts, dance houses, reading park, summer theatre (pop up stages, flash mob), giant puppets and family craft workshops. All programs were implemented under strict supervision in accordance with the regulations of the pandemic situation. The aim of these events is not only to boost the city’s tourist traffic, but also to create new values and traditions.
In social media platforms the local CCI’s got the opportunity to promote their products, so they are available not only at the events, but online too.

Apr. 9000 EUR for online (videos, Facebook, logo) and printed marketing campaign (bus stickers, billboards).
3 people to manage the scheme.

Originally the program was planned for summer, but the number of SME’s (CCI’s) applying allowed to continue it during the autumn. The amount of incoming tourists during the summer holiday couldn’t reach the number of previously years, but the visitors actively took part at the CCT events, because they felt safe. The new round table meetings started in September with the stakeholders and came alive new ideas for CCT product development, for example the Pécs Eye (ferris wheel).

The practice is considered an easy way brought again to life the local SME’s (gastronomy, hospitality, cultural and creative industry) during pandemic by the cooperation of the Municipality and Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber actively keeps contact with these SME’s, so they could easily reach and marketing them. In parallel the Municipality of the city can give the permission, the venue and the support staff to organize the collaboration between the actors and the CCT events too.
The campaign is a modern and effective solution (using social media) for CCT product development in pandemic and could be implement in other regions too.