Friday, March 22, 2019
“Be Taken by Albania,” is Albania’s new tourism slogan. It was unveiled to the world at the end of February. And while you might assume that tourism officials want you to be ‘taken’ by the country’s mountains, fjords, soft-sand beaches and Ancient Roman and Greek sites, which is indeed true, they’re also making a direct reference to the film ‘Taken’ and the country’s reputation for organized crime.
A statement on the tourism site says, “In popular culture, Albania has been coloured as a haven for thugs, criminals, and gangsters. While we understand that perception might make for good movies, like Taken, it’s wholly untrue! In reality, Albania is a beautiful and incredibly safe place to visit and live.”
The campaign includes a petition to get Mr. Liam Neeson from the film to visit Albania and a video that further urges the Irish actor to discover what the Mediterranean country has to offer. The promotional video says, “Hey Liam, we love watching your films, and we think you’re very talented. But we’ve got a bone to pick with you. You made people of the world think that we Albanians are criminals, thugs, and always on the lookout for daughters to kidnap.”
The video features popular Albanian destinations and tourists ‘taken’ with Albania’s unique and unforgettable charms like glacial lakes, crumbling castles, fjords, flamingos, traditional handicraft and welcoming locals eager to show them around. “We’ve been taken by Albania. Now it’s your turn,” visitors say as the video ends.
Whatever the campaign has stirred up, one can be certain that Albania is a great country to explore, from the lively capital of Tirana to the little-known beaches of the Albanian Riviera.
Tags: Albania
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