A new Australia tourism ad has just been released to replace the infamous “Where the bloody hell are you?” ad.
It seems that Australia has had a few goes at making a tourism ad. So it is interesting to note the direction that we take presenting to the world. The new ad stays well away from the profanities that got us into trouble the last time, and it is at best a safe representation of a few things to do while you are over here. But it has still managed to be shrouded in controversy. There is a scene where there are 2 girls driving in the outback, but they are driving a left hand drive car. We normally drive on the right over here. The ad will be on You Tube for 3 months before it goes live, I guess to find out if there is a back lash. Have a look and tell us what you think.
It is an interesting exercise making tourism advertisements. On the one hand they should be quite simple, some pretty shots of the environment, things to do and see and add some culture. I guess as they say the devil is in the detail, because there has to be a balance between how we want to be represented, what type of tourists we want to attract and what defines our culture. For a place like Australia, where the differences are so vast from place to place and the plethora of people from different cultures who live here, it is difficult to define a single point of attraction, and everyone will have have a different opinion. Expressionist Australian artists have spent their lives looking inwards on Australia and Australian culture. The likes of Brack, Whiteley, Olsen, Smart, Nolan, Arkley and Drysdale presented a unique take our culture, we went from being a British colony to searching for our identity and a uniting culture. While each artist was distinct in their approach, they shared the common thread of being connected to their landscape. Although, I am not entirely sure if you ever feel that deep connection in a bus ride to Oolaroo. But our landscape is not just the beautiful, vast dusty freedom of the outback. For most of us the Australian landscape looks more like an Arkley than a Drysdale. Is it possible to be collectively undefined?
John Brack, Collins Street 5pm, 1955
Brett Whiteley, Washing the Salt Off, 1985
Jeffrey Smart, The Guiding Spheres II (Homage to Cezanne), 1979
Sidney Nolan, Ned Kelly, 1946
Howard Arkley, Pink house, 1991
Russell Drysdale, The Cricketers, 1948
This did get me thinking about how other countries advertise their homeland. So I have compiled a collection of tourism adverts from around the world that are better than ours. The first one is from New Zealand, which in my opinion is one of the best I have seen, it creates a sense of a wonder and freedom, but also creates a strong connection with the place. New Zealand is breathtaking, and they have presented themselves as being youthful (aided by the soundtrack from Australian Indie outfit Youth Group) and a place where you can lose and discover yourself. New Zealand is a good comparison to Australia, we share a lot in common, and the New Zealand ad feels confident, sure of itself but presenting as being a million times more mature than Australia.
There is the quirky Japanese tourist ad for okinawa, which relies more on culture shock and fun (both of which I want a heap of when I travel) and manages to capture all the craziness and uniqueness that Japan has to offer through the use of language and aesthetics.
Then there is this cheeky swiss tourist ad… sheer brilliance. This ad is effective because it doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. (and I think I am exactly their target market)
And the strange tourist advertisement for Turkey with a flying mermaid.
The reason that these ads are more effective than the Australian ad is they create a story and leave the ending up to us. I am interested in your thoughts on this. What do you think defines Australia? Does defining ourselves make for a good ad? Can we be everything tho everyone? But then again, I wonder if I will ever like an Australian tourism ad because I am Australian.
If you’d like to know more about defining your brand so it’s much more than a jingle, why not get in touch.
Lachlan McDougall
Design Creative
Tags: Advertising, Australian Tourism, Australian tourism ad, Brand Agency, Brand Design, brand designers, Brand Experience, Brand Strategy, Brand-Australia, brand-designers-Melbourne, Graphic Design Melbourne, There's nothing like it, Tourism, Tourism ads, tourism branding, where the bloody hell are you?
I think there are a couple of things that constantly rub when it comes to branding Australia, no matter what the purpose, be it business or leisure.
FIrstly Australian’s and therefor Australia’s self image is, as you mentioned, still somewhat undefined. This leads to the use of a shorthand of cliches to define Australia, cliches Australians are uncomfortable with but the rest of the world identify as Australian. This constant battle between the ‘Occer’ and ‘Mod’ Australia in their psyche is brought to the fore by brands like this.
The other issue you touched on is the diversity Australia offers, as you said so many cultures, so many climates, so many different messages. The three examples you chose as good examples have managed to focus their message and therefor their campaign. It’s not that we can’t make good tourism ads here, the city, state and territory ads prove this, I think we just have an issue settling on the key message.
Good points De. I particularly agree with what you are saying about Australia being reduced to cliches. Even though we (Australians) often get accused of lacking in the culture department, there is alot of good thinkers and creatives here, so you think we could dig a little deeper.
On another note, more bad press, http://tiny.cc/99a78
A great article Lachie. I agree with D’s point 100% “It’s not that we can’t make good tourism ads here, the city, state and territory ads prove this, I think we just have an issue settling on the key message”. The New Zealand is on the money, it really makes me want to go there right now! ‘Our’ ad? Embarrassing!
For me Australia is so many things. But I think there is such a thing as an Australian spirit. Whether that spirit is expressed by an indigenous artist in the outback, or a surfie on the Gold Coast, or a cool girl wearing all black in a Melbourne laneway — I think it is that spirit that could be captured and promoted to attract tourists from around the world.
I have to admit, I always thought the ‘Where the Bloody Hell Are You?’ campaign at least had a real, Australian flavour — some of the spirit. I’m afraid I find the current ad pretty bland in terms of personality and spirit, especially when compared with those great paintings by Australian Artists. Maybe there’s a beautiful campaign in those.
Oh, and only in Japan.
It is funny how everyone is now comparing this ad to the WTBHAY campaign, perhaps that ad had more international impact than we thought. I like the new campaign, i like how we take the piss out of ourselves while showing what makes our country so different and what you can expect to find.
But for my money the Incredible India campaign tells a good story and shows diversity
For me, this latest is nothing more than video cliches. It’s as if the country has been reduced to a bloody theme park, which is real shame. Years ago, a commercial was created that told the story of Australia with more passion, emotion and depth than any other destination commercial I’ve ever seen. It was all about the power of transformation and how we often re-discover our true self (the inner journey that shows us what really matters) when we leave the comfort of home and ultimately lower the mask we all too often wear like a defense shield. Please watch this: http://bit.ly/baiZwn