Search

This study analyzes how the national tourism organizations (NTOs) of Spain and Italy managed their crisis communication to deal with Covid-19. The study examines the messages published by the Twitter accounts of the NTOs from the beginning or the detection of the first patient until one month after the official declaration of the pandemic by the World Health Organization. The results reveal two different ways of managing crisis communications in the face of Covid-19, both in the treatment of the topics and in the timing of publication, at the same time generating different reactions and engagement among users. The Agenzia Nazionale Italiana del Turismo was faster and more active in the first moments of the health crisis compared with the Oficina de Turismo de España. This study can contribute to the development of communication strategies on social media by NTOs during different periods of such crises as well as communication actions to enhance the touristic image of their destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted societies, having health, economic, political, and communication implications. Governments have had to plan and implement immediate communication strategies to explain the actions that have been taken and to manage public health campaigns. This research analyzes the Spanish Government's communication strategy at national and international level since the announcement of the state of alert on 13 March until 9 May 2020. To this end, the 71 press conferences held by the Government have been analyzed, with the participation of 414 media outlets that have asked 1,069 questions, in addition to 1,080 publications on the official accounts of La Moncloa on Facebook and Twitter and information about Spain in the two main newspapers in six countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, USA, and UK). The results show a permanent presence of the Government, offering information via up to three press conferences on some days, revealing a strategy to control the subjects of discussion and their framing with warlike language associated with national unity. On social networks, the content related to administrative or service information prevails over image communication, with a clear dominance of press conferences and divergence between the communication interests of citizens versus the Government, preventing a true interaction between them. Regarding foreign press reports, 778 news items on Covid-19 in Spain were identified, with a prevalence in the US press and on economic rather than health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]