Iceland is appealing to its citizens to take to their social networks in an effort to bolster tourism in light of the recent setback from the April 2010 volcanic eruption and subsequent air traffic stoppage distaster from huge amounts of ash filling the skies.
“It’s a worldwide campaign to let the rest of the world know that Iceland isn’t completely covered in ash,” Icelandic tourist board director of marketing Jon Gunnar Borgthorsson said.
The country has created a new website: inspiredbyiceland.com and a really wonderful ad (shown below) asking Icelanders to spread the word via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in an effort to improve perceptions and salvage the tourism industry that the country has come to rely on so heavily since its major banks collapsed in 2008.
Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.
Appealing to people that know and love the country to act as ambassadors in the face of a tourism crisis is smart strategy on Iceland’s part. The ad is beautifully executed, the cinematography is breathtaking and the ad is brimming with personality – from the all the crazy dancers to the naked couple to the old guys in the pool.
I love that group dancing timing is always off, I love that the people are laughing at each other during the filming, I love that the guy almost falls off his bike – it genuinely portrays Iceland and its people in a wonderful and honest light. The music is catchy too – “My heart is beating like a jungle drum” by Iceland’s Emiliana Torrini.
It may have taken a giant ash cloud to do it, but this campaign out of Iceland is top-notch.
From The Sydney Morning Herald via AdPulp.
