Last spring, as D.C. and the world struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the 2.3 million sq. ft. Walter E. Washington Convention Center lay empty — no industry conferences, no auto show. Instead, the convention center’s Hall A was transformed into a field hospital, with 437 beds able to accommodate patients if the city’s hospitals reached capacity.

Now, with D.C.’s vaccination rate steadily rising — more than one-third of residents have received at least one shot — and with the COVID-19 infection rate beginning to drop, the field hospital is being dismantled.

“We’re winding that down,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, at an event today to promote D.C. tourism. “If we haven’t started to break it down, the break down of that facility is imminent.”

Bowser and hospitality leaders are aiming to put the convention center to its original use soon, and are expecting a rise in domestic tourists in the city this year. They touted a $2.5 million plan to begin welcoming tourists again, hoping visitors will revive the industry and bring back tourism jobs. The effort includes marketing and advertising campaigns — both of which have been suspended since last spring.

“We are making travel and hospitality a top priority for our recovery,” said Bowser, who also announced a new giveaway, in which 51 residents of D.C., Md. and Va. will be selected for prizes and gift cards ranging from $500 to $25,000 to spend at District restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, and hotels.

In the first year of the pandemic, D.C. lost $6.1 billion in tourism revenue, as national borders closed and travel between states was restricted. From March 2020 to March 2021, visitor spending in the District was down 68% compared to the year before, leading to thousands of layoffs in the industry.

Industry officials say tourism is ready to bounce back. Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, said he expects a 50 percent increase in domestic visitors in 2021, compared to 2020, citing data from the company Tourism Economics. By 2022, domestic visitors could be back at pre-pandemic levels — 18-19 million a year.

Ferguson said the ad campaign will be targeted at Maryland and Virginia residents, and others within a reasonably short drive. In addition to focussing on what people can do in the reopening city, the campaign will also highlight health and safety guidelines.

“There are 50 million people that live within four hours of Washington, D.C. and that’s our market,” said Ferguson. “Not everybody is confident in terms of travel and maybe flying.”

Ferguson acknowledged that international travelers — who tend to spend a lot more — will be much slower to return.

“I always joke about the 8th grader coming to Washington and doing all the free things and eating at Chipotle and probably not staying in D.C. — the economic impact is not as great,” said Ferguson. “We love all visitors, but the international visitors stays longer and spends more. So they’re extremely important to us.”

Ferguson said international tourism likely would not rebound until 2024. Another sector that will not come back immediately is meetings and conventions.

“The word ‘hybrid’ is being thrown out there a lot,” said Ferguson, noting that many event organizers are planning to include virtual options, even as the coronavirus pandemic recedes.